Following the opposition's challenge to the prime minister's 'declaration' that Malaysia was an Islamic state, de facto Law Minister Dr Rais Yatim today reasoned that the Islamic nature of the infrastructure and judiciary of the country are illustrative of the premier's point.

Rais said the presence of the Syariah court in Malaysia indicates that the country already has the attributes of an Islamic state.

"Enough grounds have been given by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad about the Islamic state issue and what was stated decades ago has seen the light of day after some 30 years," he told reporters after officiating the Residents' Day event in Ampang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur.

"Do not be confused by the assertion of PAS who wants to insert the words 'Islamic state' in the Constitution," said the minister in the prime minister's department.

Rais was commenting on DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang's statement that first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj had declared that Malaysia was not an Islamic state when he said in Parliament: "I would like to make it clear that Malaysia is not an Islamic state as it is generally understood; we merely provide Islam shall be the official religion of the state".

Lim had also challenged Mahathir to explain whether the endorsement of the Barisan Nasional supreme council for Umno's version of an Islamic state was for a "secular Islamic state" as MCA had been claiming recently.

Last Friday, Mahathir said that all Barisan Nasional component parties have endorsed Umno's definition of Malaysia as an Islamic state.

He had also declared Malaysia an Islamic state when he opened the Gerakan Annual Delegates Conference last month.

The Umno president added that BN was only worried about an Islamic state a la -PAS because the Islamic party had failed to explain its version of such a government.

Rais also criticised DAP deputy chairperson Karpal Singh for invoking Article 3 of the Constitution and for saying that Islam was merely stated as the official religion of the Federation and that did not mean Malaysia was an Islamic state.

"Karpal is not the court, he cannot interpret the constitution in any way he likes. Article 3 states that indeed Islam is the religion of the Federation and it warrants the country Islamic in nature as long as the rights of other communities are not adversely affected," he said.

ISA relevant

In an unrelated matter, Rais once again defended the use of the Internal Security Act as a preventive measure, saying that the controversial law is relevant in the light of the recent terrorist attacks in the United States.

He said despite the incessant criticism against the ISA by the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), many quarters are now realising the usefulness of the Act to prevent terrorism.

"Even America is thinking about an anti-terrorist Act. I support Mahathir's call that the United Nations organise soon a convention on terrorism so that many perspectives can be presented and debated," he said.

Following the ISA arrests in April after a three-year interval since the act was last used, Rais had defended the security law, saying it had generated peace and tranquility.

Rais also claimed that leaders from various governments have consulted Malaysia on the country's use of the ISA.

They were mostly interested in the country's management of preventive measures and its relation to the detainee's right to a fair trial, he added.

"Even Osama bin Laden should be detained under such a preventive law until proof of his crime can be found," said the minister.

Rais also said that other countries like Singapore, Pakistan and India have been practising such a law for ages.