A brief comparison of how the memorandum and the 'dokumen' ( Dokumen Negara Islam that was launched on Nov 12) handled the issues of democracy, syariah and the "bill of guarantees" would reveal the ideological differences in PAS.

The memorandum sets itself in the context of democracy in 21st century. It is about searching for a way to ensure Islamic rule flourishes together with democracy and humanism. Terms like civil society, equality, welfare state, meritocracy informed the thinking of its authors.

Further, the audience of the blueprint is the rakyat. Its language reveals an acute awareness that PAS' electoral fate is in the hands of the voters.

Democracy has a very different place in the dokumen. It is doubtful whether it still has one. The only occurrence of the word 'democracy' is at Clause 4 of Preamble when it says PAS has been consistent in the observation and practice of parliamentary democracy.

Closest to democracy is the concept of syura. But "where there exists clear injunctions and verses pertaining to the issue, no 'ijtihad' (individual interpretation and judgment) is required except as to conduct syura in matters that relate to its implementation within a certain context."

It is also interesting to note that the Malay version of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's speech at the launch had this to say: " Kita telah mencuba pakai pendekatan Barat atas nama demokrasi, kapitalisme, pragmatisme, leberisme (sic) dan sebagainaya. "