Stop meddling in PAS’ hudud agenda, DAP told

KOTA BARU: PAS has issued a stern warning to DAP not to talk down to its leaders over the hudud issue, saying Pakatan Rakyat did not belong to DAP.

PAS assistant secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said: “May I remind DAP that PR does not belong to them. It was formed by three parties and no coalition partner can dictate to us what we can or cannot do.

“I also want to remind DAP that PAS had never abandoned its struggle for hudud to be implemented in Malaysia and this is proven by the presidential council meetings held before this that all agree to disagree with PAS’ struggle to implement hudud. PAS is committed to implement God’s laws to help reduce the crime rate,” he added.

Takiyuddin, who is also the Syariah Criminal Code II 1993 state secretariat head, was asked to comment on a press statement by DAP national legal bureau chairman Gobind Singh Deo who sounded a warning that PAS will no longer be seen as part of Pakatan Rakyat should it push for the amendments to the hudud law in the Kelantan State Assembly on March 18.

Meanwhile, state deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Abdullah said nothing, including its allies in PR, is going to thwart PAS’ plan to enforce hudud.

“Whatever the scenario we will continue to soldier on to get it passed in Parliament. Even if we fail the first time, this will not stop the state government from its quest to get the nod from Parliament.

“Despite pressure from within and outside the government and PAS, we resolve to push aggressively. Although we have waited 23 years, we are still patient in our struggle to see to it that hudud is implemented in Kelantan as the supreme law and nothing is going to stop us, including our allies in PR,” he told reporters on Sunday night during a dialogue on hudud.

During the March 18 state assembly sitting, the Kelantan government aims to rush amendments to the Syariah Criminal Code II 1993 to be deliberated to pave the way for hudud to be implemented statewide.

The amendments seek more rotan lashes under the hudud for six main criminal offences, including apostasy, illicit sexual relations, alcohol consumption, making unfounded accusations of illicit sex, theft and robbery and qisas which covers murder and causing hurt.

Mohd Amar added that the government wanted the number of rotan strokes to be increased from eight or 10 lashes to between 40 and 80 strokes for carnal intercourse and drinking intoxicating drinks.

Mohd Amar, who is the state hudud technical committee chairman, reiterated that hudud would not involve non-Muslims and they should not be concerned or unduly worried about the implementation.

“Even if a non-Muslim who felt remorse after committing a crime wants to be punished under the Islamic Penal Code, we still cannot carry it out on the non-Muslim. Under the Syariah Criminal Law, hudud, qisas and takzir will only apply to Muslims residing in Kelantan and also outsiders who commit criminal acts in Kelantan.

“So I cannot see which part of the laws the DAP cannot understand and should they go on being ignorant on the issue, it will not be PAS’ fault,” he added.

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