"The ‘PAS for All' theme is a mere false impression designed by the party to camouflage its ultimate objective to create an Islamic state in the country", said social activist and writer A Thiruvenggadam today.

NONE "Through the slogan, the Islamist party was attempting to hide its ‘Islamic state' agenda and hoodwink non-Muslims into believing that the party would not encroach into their religious, cultural and civil rights if it comes into power at the federal level", he further added.

"But the truth is PAS is hell-bent in creating an Islamic state and a Syariah-obedient Malaysian society, not just for Muslims.

"Due to the over-eagerness of Malaysians in getting rid of Umno's dominance in the last general election, the people have cast their votes for anyone, except for Barisan Nasional candidates.

"In their rush to replace Umno and BN, the people have overlooked and set aside PAS' Islamic agenda.

"However, the anti-BN swing in March last year has given sudden political impetus to PAS to champion its ‘Islamic state' agenda.

PAS' influence on alcohol sales ban

"Now, PAS is using Pakatan Rakyat's political pact to portray a double-faced political impression - one as a leading Malay-Muslim party and another as a fair, just and moderate party to non-Muslims.

"However, several incidents recently suggested that PAS would flex its political strength to out-muscle other Pakatan partners - PKR and DAP - to achieve its Islamic goals", he said.

He said PAS' pressure on the Pakatan government to ban sales of alcohol in Muslim-majority areas in Selangor and its pro-active role to ban Muslims from the Black Eye Peas concert have exposed the party's real motive.

NONE He said action by certain PAS leaders and members to seize alcohol products from stores in Selangor demonstrated the party's aggressive tactics to achieve its aim.

He also cited PAS' support to the Syariah Court decision to whip Muslim part-time model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno (right) , 32, does not augur well for Pakatan's future rule in the country.

Due to PAS' emergence as an Islamist force, he said Umno and to a certain extent, PKR, have been trying to outdo each other to champion the Malay-Muslim's cause in their quest to become the community's leading party.

He recalled that during the January by-election in Kuala Terengganu, PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim has indeed supported PAS' stand to implement Hudud laws to govern Muslims.

Comprehensive Islamisation programme

"Would Anwar say the same thing before a non-Muslim crowd in urban areas?" asked Thiruvenggadam, the former PKR's municipal councillor in Petaling Jaya.

He said the Umno government too had implemented a comprehensive Islamisation programme over the years in its administration due to PAS' emergence as an Islamist political force.

He said PAS' political clout had even forced former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamed to declare Malaysia as an Islamic state some years back.

"Back then only the DAP, not even PKR and PAS, opposed Dr Mahathir's declaration", he said.

He dismissed claims by PAS leaders that Syariah laws were only meant for Muslims and would not affect non-Muslims.

He cited cases involving estranged Muslim converts with their non-Muslim spouses showed the impact of Syariah laws on non-Muslims' rights.

Violation of non-Muslim rights

"The violation on non-Muslim rights, was underlined by the civil court decision to refer cases of non-Muslims seeking justice on issues of custody and parental rights over their children, to Syariah court", he said.

Although under the Federal Constitution, a non-Muslim is entitled to seek justice at the civil courts, he said the civil court had neglected and abandoned its public responsibility to preside over the case.

Thiruvenggadam 70809 "The civil court wrongly denies justice for non-Muslims and puts them in dilemma.

"If this can happen in a current secular state, I can't imagine what would have happened in an Islamic state", said Thiruvenggadam (left) , a weekly columnist in local Tamil daily, Malaysia Nanban.

He called on Malaysians, especially non-Muslims, to be cautious with their votes and not to give PAS too much political strength in the next general election in their rush to replace Umno's government in Putrajaya.

He said Malaysians will not invest their votes without knowing their gains and benefits from their political venture.

"Sometimes our judgment can be clouded by our own anxiety.

"A government without PAS will be an ideal solution for all", he said.