It is the year 2004. PAS has just taken over the federal government after the general elections. Somewhere in Malaysia a group of clergy meets behind closed doors. After a few hours they emerge and abruptly decree the boycott of all American goods and services.

They decree a holy war against America. The PAS government implements the decrees. US responds by imposing trade sanctions against Malaysia. Industry is crippled. Thousands are thrown out of employment.

Fact or fiction? It could be a fact if the ' Kepimpinan Ulama ' concept is implemented.

' Kepimpinan Ulama ' is a rule where the highest authority in the state is a clergy. There is usually a council of clergies supporting him.

The decrees by these clergies are akin to the word of God. Disobeying means treason and thus the government is bound to carry out all the decrees.

With the recent decrees made by Persatuan Ulama Malaysia (PUM) calling for the boycott and jihad (holy war) against the US, the above scenario may not be too far fetched if they had this authority.

PAS is a proponent of ' Kepimpinan Ulama '. In fact the party hierarchy is designed on this concept. However, PAS has been unusually silent on this call by PUM.

Perhaps they learnt from their earlier experience that the call for jihad against the US does not help secure votes.

With PAS unwilling or unable to articulate their version of the Islamic State one cannot but look outside to get some answers on the application and consequences of ' Kepimpinan Ulama '.

We have seen how the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan fared under the decrees of their clergies. Graphic portrayals of the situation there by the media makes repetition here unnecessary.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is also struggling to remove the shackles of conservative clergy rule that has stunted its progress for more than two decades. Recent election victory for the moderate Khatami is a testimony to this drive for change. Is there any good reason then for Malaysia to opt for clergy rule?

Opposing ' Kepimpinan Ulama ' does not mean opposing the ulama . Rule by clergies has never been a norm throughout Islamic history. Unfortunately PAS has portrayed this almost as a basic tenet of Islam.

Stretching the concept further PAS put clergies with little knowledge of modern management and administration in all areas of leadership.

There is an often quoted saying by the Prophet which approximately means, "When leadership is handed to the unqualified then wait for the moment of destruction". Perhaps Afghanistan is a testimony to this.