Chong: Irresponsible of Umno to help PAS

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA has to review its working model within Barisan Nasional if Umno persists in giving help to PAS, said its Youth chief Chong Sin Woon (pic).

PAS would not have successfully tabled the Private Member’s Bill if it had not received “technical assistance” from Umno, he added.

“We strongly oppose such irresponsible behaviour. Such actions have marred the spirit of alliance in Barisan Nasional,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Chong added that MCA would not compromise on matters that could tear apart the harmony among races and religions.

Party vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun criticised Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman for arbitrarily raising the motion to have PAS’ hudud amendment Bill expedited.

“Her actions have violated the spirit of Barisan Nasional. She owes other Barisan component parties an explanation,” Chew posted on Facebook.

MCA central committee member Koh Chin Han said Azalina’s actions contradicted her earlier statement that Bills tabled by the “Government shall take precedence over other matters”.

He said such arbitrary actions lacked accountability, were irresponsible and went against the core principles of Barisan.

“As we continuously reiterated, MCA will not support any Bill that grants powers to implement hudud in the country,” he said.

MCA Syariah laws and policy implementation taskforce chairman Gan Ping Siew condemned Umno’s collaboration with PAS.

“Umno is playing a dangerous political game by embarking on the perilous course of allowing (PAS president Datuk Seri) Hadi Awang to implement the proposed unconstitutional Islamic criminal laws,” he said in a statement.

The move, Gan said, undermined the relationship between Barisan component parties.

“It is a blatant breach of the Barisan decision-making process to bypass the Barisan supreme council in a matter of such fundamental magnitude,” he said.

MCA publicity bureau chairman Datuk Chai Kim Sen said PAS was now a step closer towards hudud implementation after Thursday’s events.

He blamed DAP and held it accountable for urging voters to cast their ballots for PAS in the last two general elections.

“For that folly, MCA foresees that Malaysia will have to pay a heavy price one day!” he said in a statement.

Chai urged all Barisan component parties to stand together and vote against the Bill at the Parliamentary sitting in October.