PKR hints of Umno hand in PAS’ hudud move

Latheefa Koya says it may be an effort to distract attention from the 1MDB scandal

KUALA LUMPUR: A PKR official has questioned whether Umno has a hand in the Kelantan government’s decision to call a special sitting of the state assembly to table an amendment to push for the implemenation of hudud in the state.

Latheefa Koya, a member of the party’s Central Committee, suggested that there could be an agenda to distract public attention from the 1MDB crisis by substituting it with a perceived DAP-PAS conflict.

She called on PAS President Hadi Awang and the Kelantan Menteri Besar to come clean.

“It is strange that the announcement was made just when Umno/BN is under tremendous pressure over the 1MDB scandal,” she said in a press statement.

“Why the sudden urgency? And why the necessity to hold a special sitting in order to deal with this matter?”

The surprising move was announced at a press conference on Sunday by the Kelantan Menteri Besar.

Latheefa warned that PAS, by insisting on proceeding with the special sitting, would prolong unnecessary conflict, misunderstanding, and a highly politicized debate on hudud, which she said would perpetuate the misconception of justice under Islam. “And this only brings further fitnah upon the image of Islam.”

PAS should instead be focusing on fighting the corruption and abuse of power of the BN government, she said.

”PAS should get its priorities correct, particularly in view of the increasing economic troubles faced by the ordinary people of this country.”

She urged PAS to strive for the higher maqasid (purposes) of the Syariah to preserve human dignity, freedom, social welfare and human fraternity rather than reducing the concept of justice under Islam to merely punishments.