translation Muslims cannot use the Arabs as a model for democracy and modern civilization, said a leader from the Islamic-based opposition party PAS.

PAS Youth information chief Mohamad Hanipa Maidin said Arabs were portraying a negative image of democracy and Islam, leading the West to perceive all Muslims in that light.

If the Arabs had shown a good example, he said the West may have not even come up with the offensive caricatures on Prophet Muhammad, which had sparked off worldwide protests.

"Maybe even the al-Qaeda may have not come about if Arab leaders provided greater democratic space in their countries," he added during a debate on the caricatures in Petaling Jaya last night.

Closer to home, Hanipa said his party would not agree to use the Internal Security Act (ISA) against those who published the caricatures because the security law was 'wicked'.

"Those who insult the prophet are definitely wicked but the ISA is worse and it is a law that has been abused," he added.

Fielding questions from the floor, the politician said Muslims in this country should also not assume that all of PAS' actions were right.

As a political organisation, he said the party must act according to its political agenda.

PAS-Umno feud

Meanwhile, another panelist Umno Youth religious bureau chairperson Shamsul Najmi Harun said the political tussle between Umno and PAS was not as severe as some quarters think it is.

On the same note, he said the tussle had borne a positive effect for the people and the nation's development.

Shamsul also called for more dialogues to be held, involving those from other faiths as well.

"Prophet Muhammad personally despatched a note to hold dialogues with the Persian king, Roman emperor and the king of Habsyah (modern day Ethiopia)," he said.

However, he said not all matters must be debated because the core principles of Islam cannot be changed.

He also disagreed with associating Islam or the term jihad with violence because the religion teaches a person to use the faculties of the mind to overcome issues.

The public dialogue was organised by the Open Dialogue Centre.