Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today launched a scathing attack on leaders of PAS, suggesting they could be headed for hell. Describing PAS as deviationist, Mahathir told an impromptu news conference the government would block PAS's bid to introduce a version of Syariah criminal law in a state under its control.

Referring to the plan by Terengganu state chief minister Abdul Hadi Awang, Mahathir said: "He will sin because he approves laws that are unfair and when he dies he will face hell.

"Because he has approved laws that are not based on true Islamic teachings and tarnish the true teachings of Islam he will receive his punishment on judgement day."

Mahathir said opposition by his UMNO to PAS's plans would not make the party unIslamic.

"We are Islamic. They are unIslamic. Their God is a thug and that is why they deviate," he said.

Mahathir, 76, who on Monday described Malaysia as an Islamic fundamentalist state because it abides by the fundamental teachings of Islam, said Islamic laws were fair but PAS laws victimised the people.

"They insult Islam by creating a set of laws that is supposedly Islamic but has no justice. It is clear their laws are unfair," he said.

Unfair laws

Syariah criminal law, which PAS wants to introduce, carries punishments such as stoning to death for adultery and amputation of limbs for theft, and PAS's plans have been widely opposed by women's and other groups.

Mahathir said: "If we have the power, we will prevent the implementation of such unfair laws."

PAS is the main opposition to UMNO within the majority Malay Muslim community in this multi-cultural country, where some 40 percent of the people do not follow Islam.

Mahathir, who has been in power for 21 years, later said he would travel nationwide to explain to the people about PAS unjust Islamic laws if necessary.

"If I think it is necessary, I will do," he told reporters after a 90-minute close door session with his party leaders.

Muhyiddin Yassin, UMNO vice-president told AFP that delegates are expected

to focus on religion, education, economy and Malay's special rights.

"PAS insurgency will be debated. PAS plan to table the hudud law will be discussed," he said.

Pas ploy

Muhyiddin said UMNO must be cautious how it reacts because it was a PAS strategy to trap the ruling party.

"It is PAS ploy to paint UMNO bad and to accuse us of not being serious about promoting Islam," he said.

The issue has become central to Malaysian politics in the wake of the Sept 11 terror attacks on the United States and a crackdown here on alleged Islamic militants, many of them PAS members.

Mahathir, who has condemned the attacks and won praise from the US for his cooperation in the war on terrorism, has said terrorism is unIslamic and in September declared that Malaysia was a true "Islamic state".

The Chinese-based opposition DAP country objected, saying it was against the secular

constitution and could make non-Muslims second-class citizens.

PAS, on the other hand, derided Mahathir's declaration as false and is using its plan for syariah law as an attempt to embarrass the government.