CHINESE MUST BE SMARTER: Stop falling for the HUDUD SCARE TRAP sprung by Umno, MCA, DAP

The ugly threat of "hudud" (archaic Islamic laws) is upon Malaysians once again. Only this time with a stronger impetus being made by Parti PAS to push the issue through by having the north Malaysian state of Kelantan to be the first to implement hudud.

Malaysians of all walks of life are understandably troubled and disturbed by the thought and idea that Parti PAS wants to enforce hudud laws in keeping with their steadfast stance on propagating the Islamic way of life.

While this is not only sending shivers down the spines of non-Muslims, those professing Islam also, and certain segments within PAS' own membership base also voice scepticism over the idea of having hudud as most Malaysians feel it is going the wrong way for us as a nation.

Ever since Parti PAS upped the ante on having hudud laws, the Chinese-based political parties such as DAP, MCA and Gerakan have gone out on a limb to try and counter the move by PAS.

DAP have even threatened to breakaway from the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition it has formed with PAS and PKR whilst the Barisan Nasional-based MCA have threatened to break-up their relationship with UMNO and other BN component parties if hudud is implemented in this country.

On the surface, the situation looks grave and serious. But is it possible for PAS, a party viewed more as a loose cannon by most Malaysians and the international community, be able to switch the Malaysian civil law structure with hudud laws? The answer not surprisingly is a most definite no despite all the sabre-rattling by Parti PAS on hudud.

It is impossible to implement hudud in a country like Malaysia for a few very basic and simple reasons.

What the federal constitution has to say?

For a number of years now, presumably to gain the favour and blessing of Islamic countries, UMNO leaders from Barisan Nasional have tried to push and sell the idea that Malaysia is an Islamic state.

But if the federal constitution, drafted by Tunku Abdul Rahman and the founding fathers of Malaysia's independence, is read carefully, it is not stated in any way whatsoever that this country ever was and is an Islamic state.

What is stated in the federal constitution is that Islam is the official religion of the country owing to the fact that the larger portion of the populace is made up of Malay-Muslims and hence it was agreed to accord Islam the status which it enjoys till today.

Since then there has been no change in the status quo. Islam is the official religion of Malaysia but the country is not an Islamic state, even implied or otherwise.

Though being a state where Islam is the official religion, the country has been all along since Merdeka been run along secular lines in accordance with parliamentary democracy of the Westminster model.

For PAS to want to change this scenario and implement hudud, the possibility does not exist as they have not got the majority support of Malaysians and there will also be a need to redraft the federal constitution to conform to the status of theocratic oligarchy.

Besides this, there has to be a referendum and they do not have the support even within Pakatan to do so. This is why while they "wish" for hudud, Parti PAS members know it is merely wishful thinking.

What really then is the agenda by Parti PAS to push for the hopeless case of implementing hudud? Is it mischief on their part or do they have a larger cause behind it?

The whole idea basically of this hudud push and thrust by Parti PAS is really a move to drive their Islamisation exercise in Malaysia.

This is really the bottom line of Part PAS' objective - to try and propagate through whatever means their Islamic package on offer to Malaysians.

The mischievous machinery at work

Since this bid by Parti PAS can be deemed harmless and useless, why has the issue caused and sparked so much outcry and anguish among Malaysians?

It appears there are guilty parties at work for creating so much of trouble and unrest among the rakyat.

While the issue of PAS wanting to implement hudud is in reality non-existent, the mainstream media is fully accountable and guilty for blowing the issue out of proportion for certain obvious and not so obvious reasons.

The mainstream media, owned by the powerful UMNO and MCA warlords, have gone into overdrive since the 13th GE to not only blow out of proportion but to distort statements made on hudud by Pakatan leaders to create an impression that such a reality will take place.

Besides misreporting and distorting statements made on the issue of hudud and twisting and turning the facts to create lies and fabrication in the mainstream media, political parties from BN have even resorted to advertising in mainstream media.

This is how desperate UMNO and MCA have become to cause fear, panic and anxiety among Malaysians since the run up to the 13th GE to ensure voters vote for BN.

This is a dirty tactic and ploy that has been jacked up to the maximum to try and convince Malaysians that hudud is for real.

The sad fact of all this mischief is that many Malaysians are falling for the evildoers of this harmless venture and the DAP have given in to desperation to try and convince Parti PAS to abort completely their hudud scheme.

DAP and MCA are now on the same wavelength with their "hudud is hodoh" campaigns through which they separately address the issue.

Reason should prevail over emotions

Budding lawyers are often taught in law school to "seek truth from facts."

While the possibility of implementing hudud will never happen in this country because of the state and fabric of the nation being multi-religious and multi-racial and multi-lingual and other reasons, Malaysians should think over this hudud ploy with their minds and not their hearts.

The ploy of the mainstream media, for which even the DAP have fallen victim, is beginning to backfire on UMNO and MCA as more and more Malaysians realize that hudud cannot be implemented except perhaps in the state of Kelantan.

But even if Kelantan adopts hudud, it will only be a matter of time before the state becomes a basket case.

Kelantan really should adopt and implement hudud as a "pilot project" and the dismal failure and misery it inflicts on the people of the state will then force them to banish this idea of hudud forever from this country.  - Malaysia Chronicle