It sounds a bit odd but the fact is that there are two very different, if not opposing, versions of Islamic state blueprints within PAS.

One was partially revealed by its former president Fadzil Noor at the PAS Muktamar (general assembly) in 2002, three weeks before his untimely demise. The other was released by current president Abdul Hadi Awang on Nov 12 this year.

Over the past two years, four sets of drafts were disseminated either publicly or among PAS' allies and NGO activists. Three of them were along the line of Fadzil's thinking.

This is a research on the two versions and the politics associated with them.

PAS fifth president (1982-89) Yusuf Rawa once remarked: "To us (PAS), it is not practical to go into details of what we want to do in an Islamic state."

When PAS formed the Barisan Alternatif with other opposition parties in 1999, Islamic state was not mentioned in the common manifesto 'Towards A Just Malaysia'. Fadzil was forthright in an interview with Berita Minggu that "the issue of Islamic state did not arise in the context of (BA) coalition."

PAS has been calling for more Islamic contents in governance since its formative years, though a motion to call for the immediate implementation of a fully Islamic form of government was defeated at the 1954 Muktamar.

Three 'poignant' events

However, two reasons made it "not practical" for PAS to go into details of an Islamic state. On the one hand, anything more than the status quo would attract unfavorable comments from non-Muslims, and possibly the silent disagreement of a substantial number of Muslims.

On the other hand, anything perceived as 'not Islamic' enough means criticism from PAS' opponents, as well as internal dissatisfaction from the ranks of ideological purists.

Politics is the art of possible. The art of possible is often supported by the art of ambiguity. Such is the case for PAS' handling of the Islamic state question. But all these had to end when three events in September 2001 altered the political scene permanently:

  1. The Sept 11 terror attacks on the United States (resulting in a hostile environment to political Islam)
  2. DAP's withdrawal from BA on Sept 22 (thus ceasing the 'context of coalition')
  3. Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Islamic state declaration on Sept 29.

At the Gerakan general assembly two years ago , former premier Mahathir turned the tables and claimed that Malaysia is already an Islamic state. He challenged PAS to clarify in writing the form and concept of an Islamic state that PAS intends to set up.

Mahathir subsequently refused to dialogue with PAS on the Islamic state issue "so long as the party does not expound its interpretation of this concept."

Caught by surprise initially, PAS later decided to take up the challenge.

On Oct 16, 2001, then deputy president Abdul Hadi told reporters that a committee - chaired by Fadzil and comprising professionals and academicians - was drafting a memorandum to be presented to Mahathir. The memorandum would detail PAS' definition of an Islamic state.

Interestingly, Abdul Hadi also told the media that he and party spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat were not involved in the preparation of the memorandum.

Fadzil confirmed the move in Parliament a week later. He said: "We plan to submit it by December (2001) and will do so earlier if preparations are completed sooner".

On Dec 19, 2001, PAS secretary-general Nasharuddin Mat Isa said that the party was "in the final stages of polishing" its memorandum. In March 2002, he announced that the memorandum is ready and will be made available to the public soon.

According to him, the party's central committee, which discussed the draft at a meeting on March 9, was satisfied with it. At this juncture, PAS also decided that instead of submitting the memorandum to the prime minister, it would unveil it directly to the rakyat.

Between December 2001 and March 2002, a four-page draft (Document No 1) was circulated among PAS' allies and NGO activists for consultation. The draft contained seven 'core characteristics' of an Islamic state.

'Mainstream' party

All of the principles made way into Fadzil's last speech at the Muktamar (Document No 2), in which, among other things, he called for the party to position itself as a 'mainstream' party.

The late Fadzil told his audience that the 'Memorandum Negara Islam-Pemerintahan Islam Dalam Abad ke-21' (Memorandum on Islamic state: Islamic rule in the 21st century) would be released soon.

The core aspects of PAS' Islamic state would include:

  1. A civil society (masyarakat madani) and a civil state (negara hadhari);
  2. The principle of equality (al-Musaawah)
  3. Sovereignty of law based on Syariah and Islamic jurisprudence
  4. A government based on, and aimed at, achieving justice (al-'Adalah);
  5. Appreciation of true meritocracy (As-Solahiyah);
  6. A true welfare state
  7. An innovative and dynamic government.

Sadly, Fadzil passed away shortly after the Muktamar. After that there was no further reference to this memorandum.

Sometime around June/July this year, after being repeatedly questioned by its allies on its Islamic state blueprint, a 20-page draft entitled 'Memorandum PAS kepada rakyat Malaysia-penghayatan pemerintahan Islam dalam demokrasi abad ke-15H/21M" (PAS' Memorandum to the people of Malaysia-an appreciation of Islamic rule in a democracy of the 21st century) (Document No 3, hereafter the 'memorandum') was distributed to them.

This document is a fuller version of the previously known drafts. The seven core themes of Islamic State are repeated in exact wording, though the explanatory notes are slightly longer.

At this year's Muktamar, top party strategist Mustafa Ali told delegates that the party would not make public its Islamic state blueprint. Out of the blue, PAS suddenly changed track and announced it would launch its Islamic state document (Document No 4) on the first day of Ramadan (Oct 27).

Newly appointed Information chief Harun Din said the document was compiled over the past few years and had since been approved by the Majlis Syura Ulama.

Different principles

After a short delay, the Dokumen Negara Islam (hereafter as the 'dokumen') was launched on Nov 12 this year.

The dokumen does not resemble any of the previously known drafts. The only similarity is that the core part also consists of seven principles. But, seven very different principles, namely:

  1. A state that is based on the supremacy of law
  2. Vicegerency (Khilafah)
  3. Righteousness and God-Fearing
  4. Consultation (Syura)
  5. Justice and Equality (al-'Adaalah wal Musaawah)
  6. Freedom (al-Hurriyah)
  7. Absolute Sovereignty (As-Siyaadah wal-Haakimiyah)

As explained earlier, at least until June/July 2003, PAS was consistent with the principles outlined in the Memorandum.

Extensive consultations based on these principles were conducted. Though it has never been put to vote, the principles drafted by the Fadzil Noor Committee were 'tested' at Muktamar 2002.

Therefore, my initial questions on the Dokumen include: How long has it existed in writing? Who authored it? What consultation process was followed?



Part 2 will be published tomorrow

LIEW CHIN TONG is a research student at he Australian National University, Canberra.