Beware Umno’s offer to debate hudud

It's a ruse to destabilise Pakatan Rakyat, says DAP's Anthony Loke.

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP rejected proposals to debate hudud implementation in parliament, citing it as a trap by Umno to divide Pakatan Rakyat component parties.

“It is a trap to destabilise Pakatan. Pakatan should be beware. Umno is not sincere in calling for the debate,” said Seremban MP, Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

“Umno’s motive is questionable. They are so many issues to be raised, which we have, but they simply shoot it down,” added Loke.

Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim, yesterday, said that he was ready to debate the implementation of hudud with PAS.

“We are willing to hear the motion but the decision depends on the support of the MPs. PAS has the smallest number of seats in Pakatan Rakyat,” he said.

PAS has long argued that the federal government is the stumbling block to implementing Syariah law and hudud in Kelantan.

PKR vice president Fuziah Salleh has already indicated her willingness to the debate issue.

It must be noted that Pakatan Rakyat has not had an agreement to implement hudud via its joint policy, the Buku Jingga.

Veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah who is also Gua Musang MP, meanwhile said: “We want it but the (federal) constitution has to allow it,” he said.

PAS MPs to meet Annuar soon

In an interesting twist, Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar of PAS and Ketereh MP Annuar Musa were non-committal when asked if Umno or PAS would file a motion in the Parliament to allow Kelantan to implement hudud laws.

Mahfuz said one crucial part to ensure the passage of the motion is that BN parliamentarians must agree to the implementation of hudud.

“It is fine that (Shahidan) said he is ready to hear out the motion, but they must agree to that, only then it is worth filing a motion,” he said.

The PAS vice president said the party’s parliamentarians from Kelantan would meet up with Annuar soon to discuss the obstacles that impede the hudud implementation.

“We can co-operate with Umno, no problem. But Annuar representing the government can play an important role in ensuring the obstacles are removed,” he said.

Annuar, however, said it is bizarre that Mahfuz has requested his co-operation when PAS has yet to obtain the supports from its Pakatan allies on the issue.

“They (Pakatan) have to sort it out among themselves first. It is strange that when they table a motion in parliament, they requested BN who are their political opponents to support it.

“PKR need to agree with it first, they must declare that they are ready for hudud, only then the government would weigh the motion,” he told reporters when met at the Parliament’s lobby.

He said if Pakatan is united in support of hudud, then BN should “seriously look into the direction” of implementing it.