PAS has misconceived the Barisan Alternatif's common manifesto by claiming that it contains provisions for the setting-up of an Islamic state, said a DAP leader today.

DAP deputy chairman Karpal Singh told malaysiakini that the manifesto's pledge to 'create a favourable atmosphere towards the affirmation of Islam as a way of life' does not point towards the building of a theocratic state in the long run.

"There is no provision for that (an Islamic state). They (PAS) are just trying to squeeze in something which is not there," said Karpal.

He was responding to a report in The Sun daily today which quoted PAS secretary-general Nasharuddin Mat Isa as saying that the joint BA manifesto 'leaves the door open for establishing an Islamic state'.

The Islamic state has long been a thorny issue between DAP and PAS despite their alliance in the Opposition front in recent years.

DAP has claimed that it lost many Chinese votes in the last general elections in 1999 due to widespread fear among the non-Muslims that it was working too closely with the Malay-Muslim PAS.

The latest squabble came about late last week after Karpal asked PAS to leave BA if the party continued with its vow to set up an Islamic state once it came into power.

DAP also threatened to withdraw itself from BA if PAS did not explain its concept of an Islamic state to clear the air.

The other two member parties of BA, Keadilan and PRM, subsequently stepped in to try to put an end to the feud, reiterating that they have never endorsed the idea of an Islamic state.

Keadilan has called for a high-level leadership meeting among the parties to resolve the issue while PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali has urged both parties to stop the finger-pointing which will only benefit the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN).

Secular state

Asked if his vocality on the issue will affect the outcome of the proposed mediation between PAS and DAP, Karpal replied, "There is no compromise. This is a fundamental issue which we will not tolerate."

Citing the Federal Constitution, he said Article 3 which ensures the freedom of religious practice is itself a recognition of the need for a secular state.

"PAS should accept the Constitution which is the supreme law of the land and not attempt to negate what is clear and obvious in the provisions of Article 3," said. Karpal.

"PAS should not misunderstand what DAP leaders have been trying to say. DAP is not against Islam but the setting up of an Islamic state will contravene Article 3," he added.

DAP national chairman Lim Kit Siang said the issue in hand must be addressed and resolved in an open and transparent manner, adding that 'no one should pretend it is a BN-created problem'.

"This is not a Karpal-Hadi controversy but one which concerns the very survival of the BA," he said in a press statement today.

PAS deputy president Abdul Hadi Awang who is Terengganu Menteri Besar, had reportedly said that once an Islamic state is established, non-Muslims will be subjected to Islamic laws involving public interests although there will be exceptions for certain areas.

Lim said that despite their disagreements, he respected Hadi's consistency on the issue and his initiative to begin spelling out the concept and implications of an Islamic state.

However, he stressed that he objects to the PAS' interpretation of the issue, saying that any attempt to 'arbitrarily' insert the formation of an Islamic state into the BA manifesto will mean disregarding the principal pledges to uphold the Constitution.