The government warned PAS today that the imposition of syariah law in Terengganu which the Islamic party controls would be illegal. But PAS hit back by saying that if Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad stood by his declaration last year that Malaysia is an Islamic state, then he should support syariah law.

The row is the latest twist in a political chess game over whether the government or the opposition is truly Islamic.

Mahathir paints PAS, which wants to impose theocratic rule, as a party of violent extremists while at the same time claiming religious respectability for his own multiethnic government.

The northern Terengganu state, one of only two of the country's 13 states ruled by PAS, announced this week that the state constitution would be amended to "project the supreme law in Islam".

Syariah law includes amputation of hands or feet for some criminal offences, a punishment which is not implemented in multicultural Malaysia.

"It is very clear - the state cannot introduce any law that violates the federal constitution," Deputy Information Minister Khalid Yunus told AFP .

"They (PAS) are just playing politics to fish for votes. They will go to the masses and tell that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's government opposes syariah law."

Carrying out obligation

A spokesman for Terengganu chief minister Abdul Hadi Awang, who made the syariah law announcement Monday, disputed the claim that it was a political gimmick, but acknowledged that it was a challenge to Mahathir.

"The federal government has declared Malaysia as an Islamic state. If they oppose, then it means Malaysia is not an Islamic state as declared by Mahathir," said political secretary Hussin Ismail.

He said the plan to make syariah law supreme was in line with PAS's political manifesto when it won the state from Mahathir's ruling coalition in 1999 elections.

"It is not a political gimmick. That is what we promised the people. We are carrying out our obligation," he said.

Deputy minister Khalid said that what Abdul Hadi was attempting was nothing new, as the other PAS-ruled state, Kelantan, had announced similar plans previously.

"It is a game they are playing. They want to gain political support," he said.

Meanwhile the online version of the New Straits Times reported that Hadi had decided to postpone the tabling of the bill. He was to have tabled it on April 11.

The report said that the bill will now be tabled at a special State legislative Assembly between May and June.

He added that the delay was to gauge feedback from all sectors on the bill.

Non-Muslims need not fear

PAS made strong inroads on Mahathir's veteran rule in the last elections in 1999, but analysts say the government has regained support amid fears of Islamic militancy in the wake of the September 11 terror attacks on the United States.

While Muslims are in the majority in Malaysia, Chinese Buddhists, Christians and Indian Hindus make up significant minorities.

Hussin said non-Muslims should not be wary of syariah law. "We are confident they will accept it. It will not be imposed on them."

The chief minister of the other PAS-ruled state, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who is also the party's spiritual adviser, has said that Mahathir's declaration made Malaysia an "instant Islamic state just like instant noodles".