Fresh from passing state laws prescribing stoning,...

Fresh from passing state laws prescribing stoning, whipping and amputation, a fundamentalist party has vowed to impose harsh Islamic laws across Malaysia if it wins power.The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, which rules in Terengganu state, hopes to topple Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's moderate Government in general elections scheduled for 2004.Terengganu chief minister and party leader Abdul Hadi Awang says Islamic laws will apply to non-Muslims "when the time comes". Meanwhile, the national Government, which accuses the fundamentalists of promoting extremism, has promised to block such attempts on the state and national levels.The Islamic party will contest upcoming by-elections in Kedah state prompted by the death of Fadzil Noor, a moderate fundamentalist leader whose death handed party control to hardliners.Terengganu state, where the party controls 28 of 32 seats, on July 8 legislated for a robber who kills his victim to be sentenced to death and crucified. A thief's right hand is amputated for his first offence, and left foot for the second. A Muslim who renounces Islam is punished by death.Sodomy and adultery can bring death by stoning. Muslims who consume alcohol can be whipped up to 80 times.Dr Mahathir, 76, who has overseen multiracial Malaysia's growth to one of Asia's richest nations during 21 years in power, has promised that his Government will block the law from being implemented in Terengganu, as is the case with another state the fundamentalists control, Kelantan.