This has created conflict with other parties which are part of Pakatan Rakyat, especially the Democratic Action Party (DAP) - (Reuters) - Following are five facts about the Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS), which is holding its annual congress this week and will discuss whether to back the opposition coalition on Friday.
PAS is a key part of Anwar Ibrahim's opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, which aims to become the next government. It holds 23 seats in parliament out of the coalition's 82 seats, which compares with 140 seats held by government parties.
PAS believes in the establishment of an Islamic state. The first article of its constitution says its role is "to struggle for the existence in this country of a society and a government that implements Islamic values in accordance with God's will".
These include "huddud", or criminal punishment laws, which prescribe among other things stoning to death for adultery.
This has created conflict with other parties which are part of Pakatan Rakyat, especially the Democratic Action Party (DAP) which represents many ethnic Chinese and which has 28 parliamentary seats.
The party has been in rivalry with the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) for most of the time since Malaysia's independence more than 50 years ago, although it was in alliance with UMNO in the 1970s.
(Reporting by David Chance; Editing by Paul Tait)
By Niluksi Koswanage
Reuters
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
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