'PAS permits sodomy between a married couple'

The Dewan Rakyat erupted in a pandemonium today when Independent MP Zulkifli Noordin insinuated that the hudud laws of PAS encourage carnal intercourse between a married couple.

He said carnal intercourse or sodomy, forbidden in Islam, was legalised for married couples in Terengganu under the PAS administration in 2002.

This he said was under the Syariah Criminal Offence (Hudud and Qisas) Enactment gazetted in 2002, which provides that it is an offence for a man to commit carnal intercourse, unless it is with his wife.

"This is not Islamic law, this goes against Islam. I don't know what are the beliefs of PAS, they created this themselves," said Zulkifli during the debate on the Supply Bill.

He added that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had rejected the PAS version of hudud because it was not Islamic hudud.

His remarks drew angry shouts from Salahuddin Ayub (PAS-Kubang Kerian) who accused Zulkifli of misleading the House and demanded a retraction.

"I want him to be referred to the rights and privileges committee," Salahuddin asked deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee, citing Standing Orders 62(1).

Incensed by Zulkifli’s statement, Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Selangor) and Yusmadi Yusoff (PKR-Balik Pulau) joined Salahuddin in demanding that Kiandee censures Zulkifli.

“You are a despicable liar,” shouted Yusmadi followed by Dzulkefly, as Zulkifli stood firm that he was citing the Terengganu enactment, word for word.

BN backbenchers lunge at the opportunity

Using the opening provided by Zulkifli’s remarks, BN backbenchers jumped into the fray, bashing PAS and the other Pakatan Rakyat component partners.

Taking the lead was Bung Mokhtar Bung Radin (BN-Kinabatangan), who retorted “bini tetap bini, tetapi tidak boleh diliwat” (she is your wife, it is true, but she cannot be sodomised).

The others, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (BN-Putrajaya), Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong) and Salleh Kalbi (BN-Silam) took the opportunity to chastise PAS members for encouraging the forbidden act.

Despite the flying brickbats between the two sides of the House, Kiandee kept his cool while warning the MPs to rein their bombast and repeatedly asking Zulkifli to wrap up his debate.

Ignoring Kiandee’s warning, Zulkifli continued his barrage, waving two documents of the said enactment, accusing PAS of going against Islam by legalising the banned sexual act.

Zulkifli said PAS MPs were causing chaos in the House because they were “afraid of the truth”.

Salahuddin insisted that Kiandee refers Zulkifli to the rights committee, but the deputy speaker said that he has no “privilege over the statement” and rejected Salahuddin’s objection.

At a press conference later, Zulkifli said he wanted to prove that PAS’s version of the hudud law was not according to what is provided in Islam.

He added that their insistence on the hudud was nothing but a “political gimmick” to fish for votes.

Meanwhile, PAS parliamentarians, who also held a press conference, said they would table a motion to refer Zulkifli to the rights committee for his conduct.

Salahuddin and Dzulkefly said they would refer to the Hansard before moving the motion on Monday to have Zulkifli brought before the rights and privileges panel.