Parti Rakyat Malaysia has rejected the idea of a theocratic state in multi-racial Malaysia because it believes in the concept of la ikraha fiddeen , meaning there is no force in religion.

PRM president Syed Husin Ali said a class of rulers who professes a religion cannot impose a system of governance based on their beliefs alone on a society which comprises people from other races, religion and culture.

He urged PAS who is bent on setting up a theocratic state, to guarantee immediately that if it comes to power with a two-third majority in parliament, it will not implement an Islamic state by force.

"They must implement the Barisan Alternatif's 1999 common manifesto and not set up an Islamic state by force. Instead they should obtain the approval of the people by way of a referendum," said the veteran politician.

"We believe that in any democratically elected government, the people must be guaranteed the freedom to practise their own religion," he added.