Faced with his toughest interview to date, PAS vice-president Mustafa Ali justified his party's policies including the stiff penalties against apostates, saying their actions could be considered as declaring war against the religion.

"If (a Muslim) decides to leave the religion without anyone's knowledge, they can get off scot-free. If they announce to the world that they are leaving Islam, it is tantamount to declaring war on Islam, (as it implies that) Islam is bad," he said during an interview with popular BBC host Tim Sebastian.

The 30-minute Hardtalk programme aired today saw Mustafa field tough questions on hudud laws, Islamic state, as well as PAS' views on the United States' wars against Afghanistan and Iraq.

The interview, which saw heated exchanges, is part of a series which included one with Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar , aired two days ago.

Stressing PAS' acceptance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Mustafa appeared uncertain when asked if this included Article 18 of the charter which provided for religious freedom.

"We have to check on this. We have to discuss this," he said when Sebastian pointed out that Article 18 included the right of a person to publicly declare his or her religion of preference.

Wrong perception

Questioned on PAS' intentions if it came into power, the vice-president insisted that the Muslim-based party would not turn its back on the federal constitution and that it would maintain a moderate Islamic rule.

"We control two states now, Kelantan and Terengganu. Our track record shows that we have been moderate all along in the administration of these two states," he said.

According to him, many people, particularly the non-Muslims, have the wrong perception about the party because of the way it is portrayed in the media controlled by groups or individuals linked to the government.

"We have Chinese in Terengganu and Kelantan and they are very happy with our administration. People outside these two states have been misled mostly by the media which is controlled by the party in power," he said.

Mustafa said that if the party was to govern the country, it would implement Islamic laws only in predominantly Muslim states.

"(Syariah law) would not be implemented throughout Malaysia but to states where the majority are Muslims. We got the mandate from the people to implement so it is part of our promise," he explained.

He also vehemently denied a suggestion that other PAS leaders have said that the religious laws would be applied to all other states in due time.

On the party's stand with regards to the use of violence to achieve political aims, Mustafa reiterated that PAS was against violence and that the party sought change only through democratic means.

"Right from the first elections that we participated in 1955, we say that the process of government should be by democracy," he said.

Mustafa rejected suggestions that PAS members could have been involved in fighting against the US in Afghanistan, saying that no party members left for Afghanistan although some wanted to.

He also denied any association between the party and groups suspected to be linked with militant organisations.

"We never knew that there were extremists in Malaysia. We never knew about (people like suspected Jemaah Islamiah leader Hambali) until it surfaced in the newspapers. Our members were not involved in this. They are not our members," he asserted.

Suicide bombings

Asked to comment on PAS' criticism against US for launching a war on Afghanistan, Mustafa clarified that the party's call for jihad did not mean it was in favour of violence against Americans.

"Jihad is a term used by the Muslims which means struggle. You can have jihad in economic terms or educational terms Jihad means to struggle to assist whomever is in need of justice including Muslims and non-Muslims," he said.

He said although PAS has expressed support for "freedom fighters" in Palestine, it did not support actions which target civilians.

"We condemn (the suicide bombings) if targeted at innocent people. But if they blow themselves up against Israeli atrocities, then I think it is just," he added.

Mustafa said there should be differentiation between the two types of actions.

"Against civilians, it is wrong. Against the military, of course they have the right to do that to defend themselves."