Terengganu's PAS-led government should not be overzealous about turning syariah laws into the state's supreme law as this would amount to defying the Federal Constitution, DAP national deputy chairperson Karpal Singh warned today.

Terengganu Menteri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang should "not let his enthusiasm to set up an Islamic state have the better of him", Karpal said in a statement.

"I would advise him to seek legal advice from the state legal adviser before embarking upon something unprecedented and unconstitutional."

News reports today quoted Abdul Hadi, who is also PAS deputy president, as saying that Terengganu will amend the state constitution to effect a policy change in its administration that will provide for syariah laws to its highest law.

Four enactments

The menteri besar said four enactments which are related to syariah criminal law and similar to hudud law will also be tabled when the state assembly convenes in April.

He added Terengganu was to be one step ahead of Kelantan, also under PAS rule, in the implementation of hudud law .

Hudud law allows for punishment that includes whipping, stoning and amputation of limbs for offences like theft, adultery and consumption of alcohol.

Karpal, a practising lawyer, stressed today that PAS must bear in mind that the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the country as stated in Article 4(1).

He added that Article 75 makes it clear that any state law which is inconsistent with the federal law is void and can be nullified.

The opposition leader also took a swipe at Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who declared last September that Malaysia was already an Islamic state even though hudud law was not enforced.

"The declaration is purely a political one. Malaysia has from its inception been a secular state with Islam as its official religion but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony," he said.