I’ll quit too, says Subra

PETALING JAYA: The MIC will stand firmly with other Barisan Nasional component parties in opposing hudud, with its president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam vowing to quit as minister if PAS’ Private Member’s Bill is passed.

He said the Indian community wanted the party to make a strong stand against hudud.

“I have to represent the voice of the Indian community,” he said in winding up a party emergency general meeting (EGM), held to discuss the issue in Subang Jaya, yesterday.

The Health Minister said the decision to relinquish his Cabinet post was made by the MIC central working committee, which met earlier in the morning, and was fully supported by delegates who attended the EGM.

Dr Subramaniam urged all Barisan parties, namely MCA, Gerakan and SUPP, to stand united in driving across the point to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that “hudud is not for Malay­sia”.

“I hope the Barisan spirit will prevail. We will have to get a consensus,” he said.

On Najib’s clarification that the amendmends sought by PAS had no connection with hudud, the MIC chief said he was happy to hear that but wanted the Prime Minister to explain further.

“He must comfort us that it is not hudud and he must make sure that it does not go in that direction,” he added.

Dr Subramaniam, who held a press conference later, said MIC’s own analysis and reading of the Bill raised fears that it would eventually lead to implementation of hudud in Kelantan – and subsequently in other states.

The Syariah Court, he said, could now impose imprisonment of three years, fines of RM5,000 and six strokes of the rotan but added that the amendments allowed any punishment except the death penalty. Dr Subramaniam said hudud was not only against the Federal Constitution but would also create a dual legal system.

The Constitution, he said, guaranteed equality before the law and the MIC did not want a situation where a person could also be charged in the Syariah Court.

Dr Subramaniam said the MIC would seek to speak to Najib on the issue because the party respected him as the leader of Barisan.

“I hope in these dialogues, he will listen to our views, fears, concerns and why we don’t want this to happen; for the love of our country and multi-racial Malaysia,” he said.

MIC Youth chief C. Sivarraajh, in a statement issued later, said the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Juris­diction) 1965 (Act 355) would change the secular features and safeguards of the country.

He said MIC Youth was of the view that the proposed amendments were unconstitutional and designed to weaken the sanctity of the Constitution.