Which version of the Islamic state is more threatening — Umno or PAS? According to DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang, the people should be more worried about Umno's version as the ruling party has the power to impose its Islamic state regime immediately.

He said the critical issue to be decided in the next general election is not to choose between the Umno or PAS Islamic state, but to defend the 1957 constitution which states that Malaysia is a secular state with Islam as the official religion.

But Lim was also quick to add that "this does not mean we should not fear PAS' brand of Islamic state".

"What people should be more concerned is Umno's Islamic state as Umno is the ruling party and will continue to control the government for quite a while yet," he told a press conference at the party's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

It may take perhaps another 10 years before PAS could come to power, and even then it would take 100 steps to realise its vision of the Islamic state.

"But Umno can take just two or three steps and implement the Islamic state," he warned.

The Islamic state issue which has been a sore point for the opposition has led to the departure of the DAP from the Barisan Alternatif coalition last September.

While PAS insisted that Malaysia is currently not yet an Islamic state, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has however declared that it is at the Gerakan's national delegates conference last year.

Aggressive campaign

Since then, DAP has led an aggressive campaign against Mahathir's Sept 29 Islamic state declaration.

Lim was arrested by the police but released on RM3,000 bail yesterday for distributing pamphlets allegedly to contain seditious statements against Mahathir's declaration.

Yseterday, BA partner PRM concurred with the DAP, saying that it cannot accept a theocratic state imposed by any ruling class as the party believes in religious freedom.

Its president, Dr Syed Husin Ali, made clear the party's stand that religion should not be forced on anyone.

However, for the sake of opposition unity and in preparation for a snap general election, the opposition coalition which comprise PAS, Keadilan and PRM has agreed to negotiating an electoral pact with DAP.

DAP has responded positively by appointing the party's publicity secretary Ronnie Liu to hold talks with BA. But Lim added that the talks are likely to centre only on seat allocation among the opposition parties.

On the need for an electoral understanding, Lim said, "It is the hope of the opposition to see straight fights between BA and BN [the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition]. That is one factor which can help break the BN's hegemony as they have acted with arrogance and contempt for the people for 47 years".

"We have to prevent a split of votes. If we could break the hegemony or deny BN a two-third majority, even if Mahathir is still prime minister, the power of the people can at least be unleashed," he added.