Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has warned that "political Islam" in Malaysia may give rise to authoritarianism.

In his latest blog posting, he said that political Islam is gaining momentum here at a rate that is unheard of previously.

"This means that democracy and the rule of law in Malaysia grow increasingly fragile while authoritarian rule lurks around the corner.

"The 'Islamisation' process (in Malaysia) involves not just NGOs or social and religious activists but the very core of the government as well and the ongoing attacks on the Christian use of  Allah give credence to the view held by political experts that at the next general election, the contest will be about who can play the Islamic game better," he added.

Zaid called on leaders of political parties especially those in BN to view this development seriously.

The former minister, who was an Umno member, excluded the party out of the equation, saying that it is "already too late to expect anything progressive from that quarter."

"The unwillingness of Umno leaders to find a peaceful solution to the Allah issue for example is a clear sign of the march towards authoritarian rule. Invoking the name of god is just a ruse to gain support for a new dictatorship," he said.

"PAS, I hope, will be the last bastion preventing the death of democracy in this country. Who could have imagined such a thing 20 years ago," he added, lauding PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for his stand on the Allah issue.

Zaid said PAS' stand that it has not objection to the word Allah being used as long as the word is not abused but used in prayers and in holy books, is a correct principle and an excellent practical solution.

"If the government has any sense left, it should know that it is impossible to continue confiscating Bibles and the Guru Granth Sahib. And if anyone insists that nonMuslims are barred from using Allah in any context, then surely that insistence includes the singing of state anthems containing the word Allah.

"Such a ban is patently ridiculous and impossible to implement. Furthermore, barring someone from saying or singing 'Allah lanjutkan usia Tuanku', for example, can be interpreted as an act of treason," he pointed out.

Do not renege on Cabinet decision

Zaid said the government should not renege on its 2010 Cabinet decision in allowing the importation and publication of the Bahasa Malaysia/Bahasa Indonesia translated bibles.

"It should explain the decision carefully and clearly so everyone understands it. I shall leave it to them to find the courage to do so," he said.

However, the former law minister said troublemakers have gained attention and the government is now stuck with a ban it cannot possibly enforce.

This follows the Selangor Islamic Department's (Jais) raid on the Malaysian Bible Society on Thursday and confiscating more than 300 copies of the Al Kitab or the Bahasa Malaysia bible and the Iban translated version.

Comparing the situation with Indonesia, Zaid said the republic preserved the institutions and protected the founding principles of the nation.

"Operating in a democracy, the Indonesian government continues to allow the various political and religious aspirations of the nation to be aired and canvassed with all the enthusiasm adherents can muster. At the same time, no one is ever allowed to transgress the defining parameters of the Constitution.

"In Malaysia, we think we are smarter. We think we can redefine and reformulate the founding principles of our nation - or even violate the Federal constitution outright - just because the government or some privileged interest group feels it is politically expedient to do so. We have got it all wrong," he added.