DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang called upon PAS leaders to reconcile each other's stand on the setting up of an Islamic state with that of the Barisan Alternatif manifesto.

Lim said while PAS deputy president Abdul Hadi Awang insisted on establishing an Islamic state, the party's spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat had given assurances that PAS believes not in an Islamic state but an Islamic society.

"Hadi should explain how his stand can be reconciled with the BA manifesto, which upholds the fundamental principles of the Malaysian Constitution, and the assurances given by Nik Aziz," he said.

According to Lim, Nik Aziz gave this assurance in his dialogue with the Conference of Churches in Malaysia in May last year, where he insisted that his party believes not in an Islamic state so much as an Islamic community.

This meant, Lim said, that PAS was more accepting of the limited role of Islam in a democratic and plural society.

He added that PAS leaders have also been pointing out that the 'Islamic state' is not referred to in the PAS constitution.

Hadi had said in Kuala Terengganu on Wednesday that the important thing was for PAS to be given the opportunity to set up an Islamic state and he was confident that DAP leaders will accept it if they have a clear picture of the concept.

"In a democratic society, PAS should convince not only DAP but the Malaysian voters as well before the people decide whether they could support PAS' ideological objectives," said Lim.

"PAS should not put the cart before the horse by asking for an opportunity to set up an Islamic state and then setting about convincing people to support it," he added.

Lim said DAP leaders had explained to PAS that the former is opposed to the setting up of an Islamic state not because of anti-Islamic sentiments but because such an idea is not compatible with parliamentary democracy.

"PAS should be realistic that in Malaysia where some 40 percent of the population are non-Muslims, PAS could not on its own get a two-thirds majority in Parliament to amend the Constitution," he said.

"Also, not all Malay members of Parliament would support PAS on this matter while it is quite safe to assume that all non-Muslim MPs would oppose it, therefore an Islamic state is not a practical or feasible proposition or option for Malaysia," he added.

Lim said as PAS seems to have taken a conscious policy to pursue its Islamic state objective at the expense of the BA manifesto, PAS leaders should publicly explain the political, legal and constitutional implications of its Islamic state concept.

Religious strife

Lim criticised Umno information chief Mustapha Mohamed for alleging that DAP and PAS were "playing games" over religion and his warning that many countries had been destabilised and the people left suffering because of religious strife.

Mustapha had reportedly said this in The Star daily today when asked to comment on the controversy between the two opposition parties.

"His (Mustapha's) statement is most deplorable as DAP and PAS are not involved in a religious strife," said Lim.

"Let us prove that Malaysia is a country where it is safe to disagree and where differences in culture, religion or political opinion can be aired in a democratic environment without escalating into violent conflict," he added.

Meanwhile, Keadilan deputy president Dr Chandra Muzaffar has asked The Sun daily to correct the attribution of a quote to him in its report today.

The Sun report quoted Chandra as saying, "While we respect PAS's political ideology, our stand on the Islamic state is very clear - that Malaysia is a multi-racial, religious and multi-cultural nation and the concept of a Islamic state is not a proposal that is suitable, practical or acceptable".

"This last paragraph of The Sun report titled 'Public debate if issue not resolved', does not belong to my statement," said Chandra.

"I'm told by Kerk Kim Hock, DAP secretary-general, that it is from his statement. This has caused some confusion among Keadilan members and supporters," he added.