Say no to hudud, MPs urged

KUALA LUMPUR: The Chinese community was taken aback by the hudud amendment Bill that was almost debated in parliament on Thursday.

The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong), along with Chinese Assembly Halls from 13 states, issued a statement urging MPs across the political divide to vote against the Bill if it is debated in October.

“Formerly, everyone assumed that the hudud amendment Bill hardly had any chance of being debated in Parliament,” the statement read, adding that the members were shocked when Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said raised a motion to expedite the Bill.

Hua Zong, together with the Chinese Assembly Halls, pointed out that Malaysia was a multi-racial and multi-religious country.

If PAS succeeds in getting the Bill passed, it would have long-term ramifications to Malaysia’s legal system.

Hua Zong said it respected Islam’s unique position as Malaysia’s official religion as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

However, the federation is worried that once the Bill is passed, it would threaten the secular nature of the country.

They also opined that it was the fight to gain political mileage which had allowed PAS to successfully table and almost debate the Bill on Thursday.

“It is worrisome that the hudud amendment Private Member’s Bill could be passed in Parliament via a simple majority come October,” the statement added.

The federation said the incident on Thursday was an “alarm bell” and if MPs from both sides of the political divide do not unite to oppose it, Malaysia could move towards “a path of no return”.