Former PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa said he is prepared to meet DAP national chief Karpal Singh in court for saying the latter is anti-Islam.
Government-linked Malay dailies Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian quoted Nasharuddin, the Bachok MP, saying that Karpal’s rejection of implementation of hudud as tantamount to rejecting Islam itself.
"I stand firm on my statement that Karpal is anti-Islam and I am prepared to meet him in court," Nasharuddin (left) was quoted saying.
Government-linked Malay dailies Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian quoted Nasharuddin, the Bachok MP, saying that Karpal’s rejection of implementation of hudud as tantamount to rejecting Islam itself. "I stand firm on my statement that Karpal is anti-Islam and I am prepared to meet him in court," Nasharuddin (left) was quoted saying.
"Rejecting a part of Islam is rejecting Islam," he was reported saying in his SMS message to Utusan’s weekend edition Mingguan Malaysia today.
"I have been taught by PAS that Islam is syumul and that the religion covers all aspects of faith, laws and morals," he added.
Nasharuddin was responding to Karpal's statement that he isconsidering legal action against the PAS leader for the former’s statements against him.
Nasha on slippery slope
Karpal’s stand comes in the wake of Kelantan PAS commissioner Mohd Amar Nik saying that PAS supporters in Bachok want Nasharuddin to be replaced in the coming 13th general election.
Nasharuddin had irked PAS supporters when he was featured alongside Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak during his trip to Mecca that was splashed on the front-page of Umno-owned Utusan.
Karpal, who is Bukit Gelugor MP, has been consistently in his stand that Malaysia cannot implement the Islamic law as it contradicts the federal constitution.
Karpal had also pointed to a 1988 Supreme Court decision where former lord justice Salleh Abbas had said in his judgement that Malaysia’s laws were secular.
Karpal had nevertheless often reiterated that the DAP accepts that Islam is the official religion of the federation and that freedom of religion is enshrined in the constitution.
Hudud law has historically been a bone of contention between DAP and PAS, with the former having quit the Barisan Alternatif – an earlier initiative at opposition cooperation in 2001 - over the Islamic state issue.
However the two parties appear to have agreed to disagree on the matter under the new Pakatan coalition.
"I have been taught by PAS that Islam is syumul and that the religion covers all aspects of faith, laws and morals," he added.
Nasharuddin was responding to Karpal's statement that he isconsidering legal action against the PAS leader for the former’s statements against him.
Nasha on slippery slope
Karpal’s stand comes in the wake of Kelantan PAS commissioner Mohd Amar Nik saying that PAS supporters in Bachok want Nasharuddin to be replaced in the coming 13th general election.
Nasharuddin had irked PAS supporters when he was featured alongside Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak during his trip to Mecca that was splashed on the front-page of Umno-owned Utusan.
Karpal, who is Bukit Gelugor MP, has been consistently in his stand that Malaysia cannot implement the Islamic law as it contradicts the federal constitution. Karpal had also pointed to a 1988 Supreme Court decision where former lord justice Salleh Abbas had said in his judgement that Malaysia’s laws were secular.
Karpal had nevertheless often reiterated that the DAP accepts that Islam is the official religion of the federation and that freedom of religion is enshrined in the constitution.
Hudud law has historically been a bone of contention between DAP and PAS, with the former having quit the Barisan Alternatif – an earlier initiative at opposition cooperation in 2001 - over the Islamic state issue.
However the two parties appear to have agreed to disagree on the matter under the new Pakatan coalition.
MCA also 'anti-Islam'?
While BN parties continue to fan the flames of the hudud divide between the two opposition parties, significantly some factions in Umno, too, have been voicing in favour of implementing hudud in the country.
A Johor Umno rep even suggested that hudud be implemented for non-Muslims as well, to be “fair” to the Muslims.
The latest and unlikeliest supporter of hudud appears to be former premier Mahathir Mohammad, who last week called on PAS to join hands with his party to propose the law in Parliament.
But the MCA has been vocal in rejecting the implementation of the law, threatening to leave the BN coalition if the law becomes reality.
However, the dominant Chinese party has yet to be accused of being 'anti-Islam'.
A Johor Umno rep even suggested that hudud be implemented for non-Muslims as well, to be “fair” to the Muslims.
The latest and unlikeliest supporter of hudud appears to be former premier Mahathir Mohammad, who last week called on PAS to join hands with his party to propose the law in Parliament.
But the MCA has been vocal in rejecting the implementation of the law, threatening to leave the BN coalition if the law becomes reality.
However, the dominant Chinese party has yet to be accused of being 'anti-Islam'.
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