PAS positions itself as a party for all Muslims, in contrast to UMNO's secular but Malay-only ideology. Enjoying strong support in rural, more conservative areas, PAS took control of the state of Kelantan in 1990, the first opposition party in independent Malaysia's history to break the UMNO monopoly. In 1999, riding a groundwell of popular protest after the arrest and conviction of former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, PAS allied itself with the Democratic Action Party in the Barisan Alternatif and expanded to take over Terengganu as well.
PAS has publicly stated its intention to instate syarikat (sharia) law, including the full range of criminal hudud law and its punishments, but has so far been stymied in a court battle since UMNO maintains that this would violate the Constitution. PAS's moves to extend the already implemented syarikat laws, such as banning the sale of alcoholic beverages, to non-Muslims as well has caused opposition from Malaysia's Chinese and Indian minorities, propelling the DAP to break off the former alliance.
See also: List of political parties in Malaysia, Politics of Malaysia