Pressure on Anwar to clarify stand on Hudud Laws

KUALA LUMPUR — More voices have joined the roiling debate over hudud, with Wanita MCA adding to the number of those calling for Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to clarify Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) stand on the matter.

Earlier today, DAP chairman Karpal Singh had also repeated his call for Anwar to “break his silence, as DAP has done so” with regards to the support for hudud by Pas, the third partner of the coalition.

Pas vice-president Datuk Husam Musa had said that the Islamist party has not forgotten its aim to implement hudud, which prescribes amputation, whipping and stoning for criminal offences, should it come into power.

When DAP criticised the statement, Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat challenged DAP to make its case as to why hudud laws are not acceptable.

“Husam’s statement has resulted in anxiety among non-Muslims in the country. Pas firmly insisting on introducing hudud has ignored the fact that Malaysia is a multi-racial and multi-religious country and the spirit of Federal Constitution”, Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said today.

Given that Karpal and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng have already asked Anwar to clarify, Chew said that the de facto PKR leader must “respect the request of the two DAP leaders and respond to Husam's remark accordingly.”

“If Anwar decides to keep quiet, there are only two possibilities, one; Anwar agrees with the remark made by Husam to implement hudud or DAP has been marginalised in PR,” she said.

Karpal had this morning said that the backing of hudud was hurting Pas's credibility and it should be more careful about breaking ranks in the future.

He reminded reporters of the electoral alliance in 1999 where Pas had agreed not to include the formation of an Islamic state in the manifesto.

However, two days before the election, Pas announced it would establish an Islamic state if it took over the state government of Terengganu. Karpal insisted that this proclamation had cost many DAP leaders, including himself and Lim Kit Siang, to lose in the general elections.

With that in mind, he said that DAP had limited “political patience” but was satisfied for now that Husam has backtracked in stating that Pas must obtain a consensus from its PR partners.

“We will still campaign and give our full support to whichever candidate is selected for the Kuala Terengganu by-election,” he assured. (TheMalaysianInsider)

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UMNO supports PAS to introduce Hudud Law

KUALA LUMPUR- Kelantan Umno will lobby the federal government to allow the Islamist party Pas to introduce hudud law, which prescribes stoning, whipping and amputation as punishment for criminal offences, in what will certainly spark intense debate and rouse opposition from non-Muslims.

The Malaysian Insider understands the Kelantan state Umno leadership is planning to declare their support, which comes on the heels of Pas vice president Datuk Husam Musa's admission on Saturday that his party would introduce hudud if it wins federal power.

The support appears designed to place pressure on Pas, which has successfully gained support among more moderate Malaysians by appearing to place its stated aim of forming a theocratic Islamic state on the back-burner.

Pas has tried to project a more moderate and progressive image in recent years, but this has resulted in some restlessness from among its more conservative members, and a clear split in the party.

Last Saturday, Husam made his statement on hudud in an open debate in Kelantan with Umno Youth chief contender Khairy Jamaluddin.

Pas has tried unsuccessfully in the past to introduce hudud and other strict Islamic law.

But these attempts have all failed because of the federal government's refusal to sanction any vote on changes to the federal constitution.

Kelantan Umno's move now suggests they want Umno to call Pas's bluff.

If Pas is allowed to try to introduce hudud, it will certainly cause difficulties in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) ranks.

The Chinese-dominated DAP could be forced to leave the PR alliance, while PKR would feel duty bound, as a Muslim-majority party, to back Pas.

Recently, more conservative groups in Pas have begun calling for more say in PR governments and for these administrations to inject Islamic values into the respective states.

These conservative groups have called for the sale of alcohol to Muslims in the urban state of Selangor to be banned, while in Penang, they are objecting to Muslim participation in a street dancing contest organised by the DAP-led government.

Umno's move could also help Barisan Nasional (BN) regain some of the non-Malay support, especially in the crucial upcoming Kuala Terengganu vote, as Chinese voters may be uneasy with all the talk of hudud. (TheMalaysianinsider)


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