It has been a week of damage limitation for opposition party PAS. Following the launch of its Islamic state proposal last Wednesday, it has embarked on a round of clarifications to counter the criticism being funneled its way by rival political parties and non-governmental organisations.

With citizens to pacify and electoral results at stake, the party knows it cannot afford to be caught on its back foot in putting across its rationale and concepts of a proposal that now appears to be a political hot potato.