Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has rejected Islamic criminal laws prescribing amputations and death by stoning introduced by PAS in Terengganu, reports said today.

Northeastern Terengganu state yesterday gazetted a syariah act to criminalise illicit sex, drinking alcohol and renunciation of Islam.

Punishments include stoning to death for adultery, amputation of limbs for theft, death for robbery and 40 to 80 lashes of the whip for drinking alcohol.

For those renouncing Islam, offenders have three days to repent, failing which the punishment is death and confiscation of property.

Mahathir was quoted by The Star as saying that he did not consider Terengganu's Islamic criminal legislation as syariah laws because they contained "cruel punishments."

Legal suit

"It is PAS' law," said the veteram premier, who retires Friday after 22 years in office.

"They can implement it but if they do something which is inconsistent with the country's laws, we will take legal action," he warned.

Legal experts say PAS has no right to impose criminal laws, which come under the federal government's jurisdiction, but the party insists these are religious matters which come under state purview.

Muslims make up 60 percent of Malaysia's 23 million people but syariah law has been opposed by members of the large ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

At present, syariah law covers civil matters such as divorce for Malaysian Muslims but is not part of the criminal code under Mahathir's government.

PAS, which also rules neighbouring Kelantan state and holds 27 of Malaysia's 193 federal parliament seats, is the only significant threat to Mahathir's Umno. - AFP