Core to the belief of any Muslim is that it is only the Quran that is the word of God. It is therefore intellectually dishonest for anyone to claim that fallible human constructs such as the Hadith and Fiqh represent God's commands. Particularly when it is seen as progressive to discuss and criticise non-theological human theories.

If Abu Mubarak is alleging that it is the command of God to kill apostates then would he be so kind as to quote a passage from the Quran that prescribes an earthly punishment for apostates. Such an effort would end in dismal failure, as the Quran contains nothing to that effect.

The 'Islamic worldview' is not as cohesive as Abu Mubarak would lead us to believe. It is commonly held that the historical apostates he referred to provoked Abu Bakar As-Siddiq, as subsequent to leaving Islam they took up arms against the early Muslims.

Such an act is known as 'hiraba', or in the Western context, high treason. It was this combined act of apostasy and violent betrayal that caused Abu Bakar As-Siddiq to defend his community.

While some of Ayah Pin's followers are apostates, they are clearly not guilty of treason. This community has peacefully co-existed in the Malay heartland for over 20 years.

Despite the recent attack by masked terrorists, the detainment of men, women and children and the unlawful destruction of the Sky Kingdom structures by government agencies, the remaining residents of Kampung Batu 13 continue to embody the words 'peace' and 'dignity'. Clearly in this instance, it is their community that needs to be defended.

With regard to apostates, the intentions of PAS are clear when we note the motion in 1999 by PAS MP Abdul Hadi Awang to circulate a private member's bill in Parliament to impose the death sentence for apostasy and when we consider that such a provision is present in the hudud enactment passed by the Kelantan state legislative assembly (controlled by PAS) in 1993.

As a political party PAS undoubtedly has ambitions to rule this country. Given the laws PAS intends to codify, this is not a mere academic issue but indeed a political one that holds grave implications for Malaysian society.