In a bid to close ranks with other opposition parties after its dismal showing in the last polls, the PAS leadership has agreed to 'soften' its stand on its controversial Islamic state policy.

It is learnt that secret talks and meetings are being initiated by ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim between PAS and DAP leaders.

The talks include a main proposal to invite DAP to return to the opposition front, Barisan Alternatif (BA), which the Chinese-majority party left in 2001 after a row with PAS over the latter's aim to form an Islamic state if it came to power.

BA currently comprises PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). Anwar is PKR's adviser while his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, is president.

The proposal of inviting DAP to return to BA was raised during a discussion at a dinner-cum-dialogue between Anwar and PAS central working committee (CWC) members on Jan 9.

In line with the proposal, PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub, who attended the dinner, said today that party leaders had agreed to go back to BA's common manifesto adopted for the 1999 general election.

This means that PAS will no longer stress its intention to establish an Islamic state.

"We did discuss the Islamic state policy and looked back at the 1999 general election to see how we can work on it (the proposal). We agreed that the 1999 formula was the best formula and we have done that in the past," he said when contacted.

"We feel that from there we can try to approach DAP again. We will just mention Islam as a addeen (way of life) as we did during 1999 and not put so much emphasis on the Islamic state (in future)," he added.

Uneasiness caused

However, Salahuddin denied that the move meant the party will abandon its Islamic state policy. He also dismissed that the latest development has caused uneasiness among the party ulama (religious scholars).

Conceding that it would not be an easy task, Salahuddin said PAS planned to form a special committee to explore the proposal and will organise a meeting with DAP leaders soon.

According to the PAS Youth chief, Anwar (photo, right) also agreed that the 1999 BA formula should be adopted because it had created the strongest ever opposition coalition in the history of Malaysian politics.

On the same day of the meeting with Anwar, PAS CWC adopted recommendations from a 10-member special committee tasked to formulate proper political strategies and programmes to ensure a better performance in the next general election.

The committee, formed last November, was reportedly tasked to come out with programmes to re-brand the party image, including the Islamic state policy which has been identified as among the causes of its poor performance.

However, it was not clear whether the decision to soften the party's stance on the Islamic state issue was also recommended by the special committee, which is headed by party-vice president Dr Hassan Ali.

Confidential recommendations

When contacted, Hassan refused to elaborate on the recommendations apart from revealing that the committee's task has been fulfilled and received well by the party's CWC.

"All the recommendations are confidential because they involve party strategies," he said, adding that the recommendations are "... being implemented".

He also refused to be drawn into commenting about the impact on PAS should it take a softer stance on the Islamic state issue.

A party insider, meanwhile, warned that the move would open up the Muslim-based party for attacks from its adversary Umno.

"Basically what they are doing now is outlining what the important issues are ... other things they just keep quite, I think this is their current approach," he told malaysiakini.

Apart from meeting the PAS CWC members, Anwar also had a two-hour meeting with Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (photo, left) - who is the Kelantan Menteri Besar and PAS spiritual leader - and Kelantan state government leaders last Saturday.

According to sources, the meeting was more of a courtesy call by Anwar on the Kelantan state government and party issues were not discussed.

The former deputy premier was also said to have had meeting with DAP leaders on Monday, which coincidentally was when the party held a central executive committee meeting.