The proclamation by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that Malaysia is already an Islamic state is only "one side talking", contends PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

"You can talk all you want. You can declare a piece of wood to be gold, or a wheelbarrow as a Mercedes, but in reality, nothing had changed. For us, an Islamic country is one which is governed according to the tenets in the Quran and hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad)," he said in Kota Bharu today.

"Malaysia is a secular state, and you can verify that with Karpal Singh. If the present Malaysia is already an Islamic state, then what do you call the state ruled by Prophet Muhammad and his friends? You can't call all it a communist state or some other name, can you?"

On allegations that PAS is not upholding democratic principles, Nik Aziz argued that the greatest violator of democratic principles is Barisan Nasional.

"The arbitrary detentions using the Internal Security Act and the curbs on the freedom of the opposition to disseminate information are some examples of that," he said.

As for insinuations that PAS is linked to militant activities that are intended to topple the government, he quipped: "Actually, Umno are the real militants. Look at their party emblem, and you will see two unsheathed keris . As for us, all we have is a full moon."

Admitting that his son Nik Adli had gone to Afghanistan and fought alongside the Mujahideen, he nevertheless asserted that Nik Adli and others left the place and severed their ties with the Mujahideen after the Russians withdrew from Afghanistan.

"As Muslims, it is our duty to help our brothers whenever they are attacked, no matter where in the world. But as soon as civil war broke out in Afghanistan between the various factions in the Mujahideen, Nik Adli did not have anything more to do with them," he said.

ISA 'judgment' unacceptable

The Kelantan Mentri Besar also said that he could not accept the 'judgment' meted out on Nik Adli under the ISA.

"It is as if the government is playing the roles of judge, prosecutor, jury and executor. The accuser is also the one making the judgment.

"I cannot accept these 'judgments' by the ISA because nothing is brought out into the open. If the government has evidence, then Nik Adli should be charged before an open court."

Last week, Nik Aziz had claimed that even though he was given the opportunity to visit Nik Adli before the latter was sent to Kamunting last Tuesday, he refused to do so as a sign of protest.

Nik Adli, 34, a school teacher, was among 10 men arrested last month under the ISA. Police suspected them of belonging to the Malaysian Mujahideen Group who are allegedly involved in the murder of a BN state assembly representative, bombing of a church and a temple as well as bank robberies this year.

Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Zin yesterday told Malay daily Berita Harian that Nik Adli had been sent to the Kamunting detention camp in Perak for two years while the rest were still under police investigation.