State leaders in PAS-ruled Kelantan and Terengganu have welcomed Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's call for uniformity in Islamic family law but said the law should be in accordance with the Quran.

Contacted today, two leaders in the respective states commended the government's intention to ensure uniformity in the implementation of Islamic laws but stopped short of agreeing to the Islamic Family law model advocated by the premier.

Terengganu Menteri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang said state leaders would first have to check if the laws as stated in the proposed model is in accordance with Islam, as expressed in the Quran.

"We are not sure if the model is in accordance with Islam. That is what Mahathir has said but we have to make sure of it first," he said.

In a similar vein, political secretary to PAS spiritual adviser and Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abd Aziz Nik Mat, Anwal Bakri, said the laws would first have to be submitted to the National Islamic Council before any consideration could be made as to whether they will be gazetted at the state level.

On Tuesday, Mahathir urged state governments to gazette the Islamic Family Law as soon as possible to counter allegations of non-uniformity in the implementation of the religious laws.

The model proposed by the premier is said to be based on the religious laws as implemented in the Federal Territory. At present, all 13 states in the country have their own sets of Islamic laws.

Uniformity in all laws?

Elaborating on his position, Abdul Hadi said not only are Terengganu's leaders in favour of coordinating family law across states but all laws in the country.

"We agree that there should be coordination of all laws and not just family law. This should include criminal, social, economic and administrative laws.

"These laws are already stated in the Quran and they are sufficient. If (the government) calls for the implementation of Quranic laws is done, we will surely agree. We abide by laws as stated in the Quran and not man-made 'Islamic' laws," he stressed.

Meanwhile, Anwal said Nik Abdul Aziz (photo) had earlier responded to Mahathir's call for more uniformity in Islamic laws.

"Any move to ensure uniformity is noble. However, there is nothing unusual about this (call by the government). The laws of the land should indeed be in accordance with God's laws.

"In the case of Islam, it is the law as stated in the Quran and Hadith. There is no harm to go for coordination of the laws," he explained.

Hudud laws

However, asked if the Islamic family law model suggested by the premier would be raised for discussion at the Kelantan state assembly, Anwal declined to comment saying that these are technicalities which have to be considered later.

"We do not want to comment further on this. There are technical requirements to look into first," he added.

According to another PAS leader, the move to create uniformity in religious laws has already started in Kelantan and Terengganu.

"Kelantan and Terengganu have been trying to bring the laws together. This is being done not only for family law but also for evidence, procedure and criminal laws," said PAS secretary-general Nasharudin Mat Isa, referring to the two states which have passed the Islamic Hudud Bill in their state assemblies.

"We certainly support (Mahathir's) effort in bringing about more uniformity," he added.

Following Mahathir's pronouncement on Tuesday, several state leaders across the country had expressed their support of streamlining Islamic family law.

Among others, leaders of Johor, Perlis, Selangor and Malacca were reported in newspapers today as saying they would be expediting the move in their respective states to gazette the religious laws.