PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, whose party has been on the receiving end of barbs about its intention to implement an Islamic state in Malaysia, has come out swinging against critics including Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In an interview with malaysiakini and the London-based BBC Radio (Indonesia), conducted in Kuala Lumpur last week, Hadi said Mahathir's own stand on an Islamic state was "insincere" and filled with contradictions that have confused both Muslims and non-Muslims.

"Umno's position on the issue is very cluttered. I was told that the prime minister has briefed officers in his department that the federal government will create a facade that favours Islamic laws, but that it will continue to fight attempt to implement such laws," said Hadi.

Dismissing Mahathir's claim that Malaysia is already an Islamic state, Hadi said the definition of a true Islamic state is stated in the Quran and Hadith (Traditions of the Prophet).

"PAS has been trying to depict such a government through our conduct and administration," said Hadi, who is also Terengganu menteri besar.

"We try to show the criteria of an Islamic state by practising democracy. We have never forced the non-Muslim community to accept our struggle and vision, which also includes the enforcement of Islamic laws."

Making laws relevant

Hadi said the Terengganu Islamic Criminal Enactment (Hudud and Qisas) was enacted because the people had voted for a party that wants to make such laws relevant to Muslim society.

"(Mahathir) keeps misleading the people be referring to our enactment as 'PAS' hudud laws', when the enactment in fact includes evidence laws and takzir (civil criminal laws)," he said.

"Before the law was passed, we announced that it would be applied strictly to Muslims - people of other faiths have a choice to be tried under these codes. We have held discussions and dialogues to explain the laws and we received positive feedback."

Responding to allegations that the state enactment is unconstitutional , he said the Federal Constitution contains conflicting provisions that need clarification.

Said Hadi: "The Constitution states that Islam is the official religion of the land. What is the meaning of Islam here?

"If it is according to the Reid Commission, then Islam means nothing more than a religion. The Muslim leaders in this country must look at Islam as defined n the Quran and Hadith , where it is a way of life that includes the way we act, the way we govern and so on."

He also said that, since the Constitution allows for freedom of religion, Muslims should be allowed to manage their own affairs. Otherwise, it would place Islam lower down the scale than other religions, leading to breach of its status as the official religion.

"Another provision places (the administration of) Islamic affairs under state jurisdiction - and this includes implementation of Islamic laws - but the Constitution also says this cannot be in breach of any federal law," Hadi noted.

The PAS-led governments of Kelantan and Terengganu have enacted Islamic criminal codes, but only the latter has decided on implementation after these are gazetted at the end of this month.

Hadi said that, even when the codes are implemented, the state government would continue with dialogues to ensure proper dissemination of information and to prevent confusion among the public.

"Once the enactment is gazetted, it is law and will remain as such until the Federal Court declares otherwise," he said.

Experienced syariah judges have been identified to enforce the law and have been sent to countries that have already enforced such codes, to learn from their experiences.

Human values

Hadi also outlined his role as a politician and ulama (religious scholar) within his duties as an administrator.

"The rakyat are free to meet us without restraint. There is no police security, nothing that stops anyone from meeting me face to face," he said.

"We are fair to people of all races, religions or political ideology. For almost 20 years, non-Muslims in Wakaf Tapai and Kemaman have had trouble in getting land for a burial site. When we took over, we gave them what they wanted simply because this was their right."

To ensure that non-Muslims are well-looked after, he has appointed an officer to monitor their needs and development.

"The state government doesn't only help the Malays, but all races. Our allocations for housing, land, medical and education assistance are open to everyone."

Asked to comment on criticism that PAS and their leaders are deemed 'extremist', Hadi pointed sceptics to the example of Terengganu, where the party has established "strong commitment to the principles of democracy".

"We won in Terengganu in 1959 and were thrown out in 1961 (through a vote of no-confidence). We fought through general elections and waited for almost 40 years before we won again in 1999. We have never resorted to any other means (of coming into power)," he said.

"Even when the federal government snatched petroleum royalty that belongs to the state, we took up our fight through proper channel (in court). I run this state with only 25 per cent of what the previous government received, but I manage with full co-operation from government officers.

"If I am such a hardliner, they (government officials) would not support me. I do not want to gloat, but must say that it is rare to see correct information about us - this is why people keep misjudging us."

On Terengganu's economic achievements, Hadi said the party's priority is to develop humanity before the state economy, as one depends on the other.

"Despite the little that we get, both Kelantan and Terengganu have succeeded in improving their economic standing," he added.

"I believe we did so after we developed humanity. The poverty level has dropped and we believe that, as our human values improve further, so too will everything else."

Tomorrow : Hadi's views on Umno and its outgoing president and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad

The interview with Abdul Hadi Awang was conducted in Bahasa Malaysia. Click here to read the complete questions and answers in its original language.