PAS spiritual adviser Hashim Jasin said it was not impossible for the Indian voters to support the opposition coalition.

“Even though the candidate is from Bersatu, they would vote for PN because Bersatu is with PAS,” he was quoted as saying by the party’s official mouthpiece, Harakahdaily.

Hashim said non-Muslims had backed Islamic movements in the past due to their “just, honest and stable” administration.

Indians make up about 18% of the electorate in Kuala Kubu Baharu, which is evenly split between Malay and non-Malay voters.

In April, a DAP source told FMT it would need to secure at least 60% of the Indian vote if it wants to emerge victorious in the May 11 by-election.

The source, an assemblyman, said the party was aware that the Indian community had been slowly leaning towards the opposition coalition.

In the last state election, Indian votes for PN increased by 14%, analysts said.

The by-election will see a four-cornered fight among DAP’s Pang Sock Tao, representing Pakatan Harapan, PN’s Khairul Azhari Saut, who is the Selangor Bersatu acting chief, Hafizah Zainuddin of Parti Rakyat Malaysia and independent candidate Nyau Ke Xin.

The seat fell vacant following the death of three-term DAP assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong on March 21 from cancer.