The theocratic ambition of PAS is once again threatening to rip apart the opposition coalition, with DAP insisting that the Islamic party abandons its plan to implement hudud law in Kelantan.
Without mincing his words, DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke said PAS should quit Pakatan Rakyat if it wanted to act on a unilateral basis regarding this issue.
"If PAS is adamant in making decisions which do not have consensus in Pakatan, then the most honourable and rational move would be for PAS to withdraw from Pakatan," he added in a statement today.
Loke's remarks were also published in the DAP organ Roketkini.
In 2001, DAP had quit the loose opposition pact called Barisan Alternatif after its leaders crossed swords with their PAS counterparts over the latter’s Islamic state agenda.
Pakatan’s critics have often cautioned voters about the fragile cohesion between the opposition parties given their opposing ideologies.
Meanwhile, Loke stressed that DAP’s stand on this matter is common knowledge and it would not agree to the implementation of hudud because it is impractical and unfitting for a multiracial nation.
"How can laws be enforced effectively if there are two sets of laws applying for Muslims and non-Muslims. Crime is not related to skin colour or religion," the Seremban MP added.
On the same note, Loke said DAP’s opposition towards hudud does not mean the party is anti-Islam, nor has it ever belittled Islamic laws or used the issue to stoke fear among non-Muslims as done by MCA leaders.
"In fact, I myself have defended (PAS spiritual adviser) Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat in Parliament when MCA leaders slandered him...," he added.
Kit Siang: Not party's stand
Loke said DAP was prepared to defend PAS and assist its political ally to abate the fear among non-Muslims regarding the party and Islam.
The MP said DAP understood that the implementation of hudud is one of the core struggles of PAS.
"The principle in the Pakatan common policy framework is that the parties can retain their respective struggles but whatever decisions in terms of implementation and law must receive the consensus of all parties.
"The main crux of the framework is to defend the Federal Constitution, Islam as the official religion of the federation, freedom or religion, to safeguard the special position of the Malays, the constitutional monarchy and Bahasa Malaysia as the national language," he added.
Loke said DAP has never turned its back on these principles, including in the party-governed state of Penang.
As a principled and responsible party, Loke said PAS must respect and adhere to the basics that have been agreed upon.
"PAS cannot act in contrary to the common policy, but at the same time, cling on to Pakatan," he said, adding that he hopes the relationship between PAS and DAP does not come to an abrupt end.
Calling for a principled resolution to this problem instead of "dilly-dallying" in the public eye, Loke quoted the words of the late DAP national chairperson and a strong opponent of hudud, Karpal Singh, who said, "There are no permanent friends or foes in politics, but we must have everlasting principles."
Speaking to Malaysiakini later, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang said the party has not made an official stand on this matter.
In an immediate reaction, PAS deputy president Mohammad Sabu considered Loke’s remarks as a personal view and not reflective of DAP’s position.
"We don’t have a problem with his view. We will meet with DAP soon to discuss the hudud issue and I prefer not to make any comments until then," he told Malaysiakini.
Mohammad Sabu said the date for the meeting has not been fixed but there would be six representatives from PAS.
Without mincing his words, DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke said PAS should quit Pakatan Rakyat if it wanted to act on a unilateral basis regarding this issue.
"If PAS is adamant in making decisions which do not have consensus in Pakatan, then the most honourable and rational move would be for PAS to withdraw from Pakatan," he added in a statement today.
Loke's remarks were also published in the DAP organ Roketkini.
In 2001, DAP had quit the loose opposition pact called Barisan Alternatif after its leaders crossed swords with their PAS counterparts over the latter’s Islamic state agenda.
Pakatan’s critics have often cautioned voters about the fragile cohesion between the opposition parties given their opposing ideologies.
Meanwhile, Loke stressed that DAP’s stand on this matter is common knowledge and it would not agree to the implementation of hudud because it is impractical and unfitting for a multiracial nation.
"How can laws be enforced effectively if there are two sets of laws applying for Muslims and non-Muslims. Crime is not related to skin colour or religion," the Seremban MP added.
On the same note, Loke said DAP’s opposition towards hudud does not mean the party is anti-Islam, nor has it ever belittled Islamic laws or used the issue to stoke fear among non-Muslims as done by MCA leaders."In fact, I myself have defended (PAS spiritual adviser) Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat in Parliament when MCA leaders slandered him...," he added.
Kit Siang: Not party's stand
Loke said DAP was prepared to defend PAS and assist its political ally to abate the fear among non-Muslims regarding the party and Islam.
The MP said DAP understood that the implementation of hudud is one of the core struggles of PAS.
"The principle in the Pakatan common policy framework is that the parties can retain their respective struggles but whatever decisions in terms of implementation and law must receive the consensus of all parties.
"The main crux of the framework is to defend the Federal Constitution, Islam as the official religion of the federation, freedom or religion, to safeguard the special position of the Malays, the constitutional monarchy and Bahasa Malaysia as the national language," he added.
Loke said DAP has never turned its back on these principles, including in the party-governed state of Penang.
As a principled and responsible party, Loke said PAS must respect and adhere to the basics that have been agreed upon.
"PAS cannot act in contrary to the common policy, but at the same time, cling on to Pakatan," he said, adding that he hopes the relationship between PAS and DAP does not come to an abrupt end.
Calling for a principled resolution to this problem instead of "dilly-dallying" in the public eye, Loke quoted the words of the late DAP national chairperson and a strong opponent of hudud, Karpal Singh, who said, "There are no permanent friends or foes in politics, but we must have everlasting principles."
Speaking to Malaysiakini later, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang said the party has not made an official stand on this matter.In an immediate reaction, PAS deputy president Mohammad Sabu considered Loke’s remarks as a personal view and not reflective of DAP’s position.
"We don’t have a problem with his view. We will meet with DAP soon to discuss the hudud issue and I prefer not to make any comments until then," he told Malaysiakini.
Mohammad Sabu said the date for the meeting has not been fixed but there would be six representatives from PAS.
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