MCA is afraid of the Chinese community's willingness to hold dialogues with PAS to obtain clarification on the party's Islamic state document, claimed PAS vice-president Dr Hassan Ali today.

He said that his had spurred MCA leaders to react harshly and condemn the document which was unveiled yesterday.

"I think MCA is scared because they know we have arranged programmes to hold discussions and dialogue sessions with several different groups in the Chinese community who have expressed their interest to find out more about our Islamic state policy," he said when contacted.

"So, they (MCA and Barisan Nasional) want to divert the Chinese attention...to stop them from trying to get a true picture from us," he added when commenting on the statement by MCA vice- president Dr Fong Chan Onn.

Fong, who is also human resources minister, told the Star that MCA will mobilise the Chinese community to oppose PAS' intention of establishing an Islamic state.

Hassan said based on his communication with non-Muslim groups, those who truly understood the document appreciated his party's Islamic state policies.

"I have Chinese people who told me how happy they are with the concepts proposed in the Islamic state especially the point on equal treatment for all races. They tell me if we can promote capitalism then why shouldn't we promote a system that is better," he added.

He also accused BN leaders of jumping the gun even before reading the document.

"If they had really read the document page by page until the end, I think they would support rather than massing resources to counter us.

"It's not that they do not realise this....they are aware of it and that is why they do not want the Chinese to show even the slightest of interest," he said.

Superior version

He added that Umno was also worried about their rival's readiness to hold dialogues with non-Muslims while the former has refused to do so regarding their version of the Islamic state.

"I have asked Umno leaders to conduct rounds of dialogues on their document but they refused," he said, adding that they shied away because they knew PAS' version was superior.

"If our document is inferior to Umno's version, there would not have been any retaliation from BN leaders. The fact is our document is much superior and that is why they are hitting out at us," he said.

On its ally Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) who labelled the document as 'inappropriate and untimely' which could jeopardise Barisan Alternatif 's election prospects, Hassan said the party was free to express its opinion.

"Well I guess it is a fair comment, they have every right to express their concern. With the front, we respect each others' principle and ideology even if we are not agreeable to them. I know they will respect our stand as we have always respected theirs," he said.

"But I think their fear against the document and its effect on our chances in the election is a bit premature. What I hope is that our BA friends would read and study our document before airing their views," he added.

'Seek the truth'

Meanwhile, PAS information chief Harun Din said the party was unfazed by the criticism from its rival.

"What do you expect from people like that. They have never agreed with us and that is why they have always made prejudicial statements against our policies including the document.

"These type of people reject the practice of Islam and they would even reject the Quran just to disagree with us," he stressed when contacted.

However, Harun was also confident that the adverse publicity would not deter the public from wanting to know more about the Islamic state document.

Muslimat deputy chief Dr Lo' Lo' Ghazali urged Malaysians not to let the negative remarks stop them from "seeking the truth".

"We all have brains to think, eyes to see and ears to hear. Go and seek the truth and not be blinded by negative statements. PAS only wants to inform people of its policies and the good that they will bring to Malaysians irrespective of race, gender and ethnicity.

"It's not like we plan to enforce it (the Islamic state) unilaterally. We want to do it the proper way...through discussion and without causing disrespect to the core principles of the Federal Constitution," she said.