PAS' Muslimat wing has disagreed with the Federal Territory and Selangor youth wing's demands to ban Sisters in Islam, an advocacy group that is leading efforts to end enforcement of Syariah provisions that infringe on fundamental liberties, including morality issues.

However, the women's wing said it agreed in principle with the demonstration held by their youth counterparts last Friday against the SIS-led initiative, which is seen as going against consensus in the Muslim community.

The Muslimat feels that the youth members should not have called for the ban based on mere differences of opinion.

When contacted, information chief Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said freedom of speech and expression should be respected by all parties, including PAS Youth, "despite not being able to see eye to eye" with SIS.

"This was the initiative of the FT and Selangor youth wing and was not brought up to the national level of the party. I would say that we cannot seek to de-register anybody just because their views are different," said Mariah who also sits in the central working committee.

Last month, SIS led a delegation to Parliament to submit a memorandum calling for an end to state policing of public morality.

The document, endorsed by 53 NGOs, 42 individuals and interest groups, was also signed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Dr Rais Yatim and Youth and Youth and Sports Minister Azalina Othman Said.

Leaders of DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, the pro-tem Parti Sosialis Malaysia and several MPs from Gerakan and Umno also signed the memorandum.

Influential role

Siti Mariah said she recognises that law-making is an evolutionary process, with "constant amendments, the plugging of loopholes and the upgrading of implementation".

"But when you call for the repeal of Syariah, in Bahasa Malaysia that translates to mansuhkan .To mansuhkan Syariah laws goes against the very grain of Muslim society. SIS' views do not conform to the majority of Muslims in Malaysia," she said.

"SIS' views are very different from those of the mainstream of Sunni followers. The group's opinions are very divisive because it has influence - not at the grassroots - but on the powers-that-be who are seen as backing it."

This has been seen in some quarters as all the more objectionable when SIS approached MPs last month to seek their endorsement to end the policing of public morality.

Siti Mariah said the signing of the memorandum by MPs may be perceived by the public as going against enactments that were passed by Parliament in the first place.

Repeating calls for dialogue by other Muslim-based groups, Siti Mariah urged SIS to hold discussions for a genuine exchange of ideas and views with these organisations.

"From my conversations with women in PAS, Abim (Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia), JIM (Jemaah Islah Malaysia) and others, SIS is seen as having very set and rigid views," she said.

"They said that, during previous discussions, it was a matter of SIS wanting their views heard and winning the debate, rather than exchanging and discussing views. SIS also be ready to admit mistakes if they have done anything wrong."

On the upcoming debate between PAS and SIS on the issue of public morality scheduled next Wednesday, Siti Mariah said does not expect SIS to change its opinions based on her arguments.

"But I do hope that members of the public will come with an open mind and consider what I have to say," she added.