When the rights of PAS were being violated by the ruling government over the past few years, human rights groups - whether they agreed with the Islamic party's policies - came to the defence of the opposition group.

So when the party called for the banning of women's rights group Sisters in Islam (SIS) in a demonstration last Friday to oppose the anti-moral policing campaign, PAS is lambasted for its 'hypocritical' stand.

"The attempts by PAS to silence groups and individuals who hold different views and opinions is highly perplexing, given that PAS is not unfamiliar with the undemocratic and destructive nature of the suppression of the freedom to express," said human rights group Suaram in a statement issued today.

The opposition party was also chastised for hurling veiled threats during the demonstration that individuals which campaigned for an end to moral policing be arrested for being 'a threat to national security'

Suaram described such calls as "deplorable" and argued that the action "casts doubt" as to whether PAS is truly interested in an ISA-free Malaysia or whether it supports the selective use of the Internal Security Act - the controversial law which allows detention without trial.

"PAS itself has had to contend with actions by the state to mute its exercise of fundamental liberties, right to assemble, right to associate; PAS is also all too familiar with the heavy-handed action taken by the state when it has tried to assert those basic fundamental freedoms," lamented Suaram.

"It is therefore remarkable that PAS should in turn advocate the suppression of the rights of SIS simply because they do not hold similar views. The double standard is blatantly obvious and lacks a mature response for a plural society."

PAS infuriated

The memorandum on moral policing , which was submitted to Parliament's Human Rights Caucus last month, has infuriated the Islamic party.

PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub, who is Kubang Kerian parliamentarian, had pulled out from the caucus to protest against the group's support for the memorandum. His party has also called for the termination of caucus members for their positive response to the memorandum.

The memorandum was endorsed by 50 non-governmental organisations and 250 individuals arguing for an end to moral policing by Islamic religious authorities.

The campaign was sparked off following a raid by the Federal Territory Religious Department (Jawi) on a popular nightspot in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 20. More than 100 Muslim youths, half of whom women, were detained.

Subsequently, Jawi officers were accused of sexually harassing the women detainees by making lewd remarks about their attire and even allegedly prevented one of them from using the toilet.

Suaram also said that SIS appeared to be singled out by PAS for attack despite that the memorandum was endorsed by many other groups and individuals.

The human rights group advised PAS to "respect differences of opinion and respect the fact that discussions related to the laws in this country, both civil and syariah, is a matter for all Malaysians, and not the preserve of a select few".

"PAS is welcome to disagree with the views of SIS or any of the other NGOs and parties, but it is highly hypocritical to then attempt to silence or demand the de-registration of any NGO, political party or body."