PAS does not intend to establish a theocratic state, said a leader of the Muslim-based opposition party today.

Secretary-general Nasharuddin Mat Isa said PAS accepts that its leaders - be they religious scholars or professionals - must first seek a mandate from voters.

"In fact, Muslim scholars, such as Dr Yusouf Qardhawi, have categorically debunked the idea of an Islamic theocracy and explained that an Islamic system of governance is not a theocracy," he said.

Nasharuddin was answering a question from a participant in malaysiakini 's question-and-answer forum who wanted to know about the right to criticise the policies of a theocratic state under PAS.

According to the PAS leader, to deny such rights would be a transgression of the laws of Islam.

However, it is unclear whether PAS will set up an all-powerful council of religious leaders (Majlis Syurah) which ranks above elected legislators, and which can propose and veto laws as is the case in Iran.

Lengthy answers

Nasharuddin - who is also a member of parliament for Yan in Kedah - gave lengthy answers to four questions from malaysiakini readers in this second round of the Q&A forum.

His first batch of answers appeared on June 25, when he said PAS would not abolish the parliamentary system should it come to power. He also noted that the ruling coalition's economic policies were unsustainable.

Nasharuddin said he would continue to answer more questions in the coming weeks despite his heavy schedule.

Malaysiakini

has received tremendous response to the Q&A forum, which is intended to provide an opportunity for readers to pose questions to the secretary-general of major political parties in the run-up to the next general election.

Nasharuddin, 41 - considered a rising star in the Islamic party - is one of the youngest officials in the country's political parties. Since he kicked off the forum, the website has received more than 100 questions from subscribers.

Gerakan secretary-general Chia Kwang Chai has confirmed his participation in the forum.

Controversial hudud law

Answering another question, Nasharuddin said the controversial hudud law (Islamic criminal law) which the party seeks to implement requires "evidence that is beyond a shadow of doubt, not just beyond a reasonable doubt".

"Whenever the stringent evidence requirements of hudud are not met, than the case is referred to takzir , where - like the penal code - the trial is based on the judge's discretion subject to the procedural and substantive aspects of the law," he said.

"Let's take the case study of a woman who is a rape victim. When there is insufficient evidence under hudud, the perpetrator will charged under takzir where all evidence will be considered and the punishment meted out will be as severe as that of the current penal code."

Nasharuddin said hudud law also accepts corroborative evidence from forensic sources. The law has been severely criticised by women's groups because hudud requires four male eyewitnesses of good character to prove a complaint of rape.

The PAS-led governments in Kelantan and Terengganu passed the hudud law when the Islamic party won the two states, but have yet to send the bills to parliament for approval.

Read the full text of Nasharuddin Mat Isa's responses in the Q&A forum here .