PAS is committed to Barisan Alternatif's (BA) common manifesto which does not state that it intends to form an 'Islamic state', a key PAS leader told a packed lecture in London today.

Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli, a PAS Central Working Committee member, said the term 'Islamic state' has been used over and over again to scare voters.

"We are aware that when we got together, all parties within the BA had different positions and ideologies, but we also agreed to focus on the common ideal," he said at a talk organised by the Abolish ISA Movement UK (AIM-UK).

Also speaking at the talk, entitled 'The ISA and Press Freedom: Implications for Democracy in Malaysia', were Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Ismail and malaysiakini chief executive Premesh Chandran.

"PAS is committed to the common manifesto, where we make no mention about setting up an Islamic state, nor a secular state. This is the strategy we used in the last elections, and we will continue with this manifesto in the next election," said Hatta

Recently, PAS and DAP has been involved in a war of words over what is seen as the persistence of some PAS leaders, particularly Terengganu Mentri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang, in setting up an Islamic state if PAS comes into power.

However, according to Hatta, PAS is fully aware that if the opposition wins the next elections, it will form a BA government, not of PAS.

"Even if PAS wins all its seats, we will not be able to form a government. We are in this together with all parties in BA, and we will continue to strive for the common ideal justice, freedom, tolerance and good governance," he stressed.

'Don't be misled'

Wan Azizah, too, echoed Hatta's sentiments.

"We never said that Keadilan will strive for an Islamic state, but we will uphold the Constitution with the position of Islam as the official religion, as stated in the manifesto," she said.

She also urged people to "not be misled and frightened" by the term 'Islamic state'.

DAP vice-chairperson Karpal Singh had earlier criticised Wan Azizah for saying that discussions on establishing an Islamic state are still ongoing in the BA front, sparking off a fierce debate on the matter.

Wan Azizah and Hatta were also asked a range of questions on Malaysian politics, mainly on the use of the ISA.

They were quizzed on the Keadilan-PRM merger; the reformasi movement; the recent landmark court judgments pertaining to the habeas corpus applications by two ISA detainees, the Likas state election in Sabah and lawyer Zainur Zakaria's contempt of court appeal; and the co-operation of the parties within BA.

About 85 people attended the talk, which was held at the Amnesty International office in London.