PAS says DAP does not understand hudud

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 – PAS said today it would not back down from its promise to implement hudud laws adding that its Pakatan Rakyat (PR) ally DAP does not understand concept.

PAS vice-president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the implementation of hudud would only affect Muslims.

“DAP rejects hudud because they do not clearly understand its implementation. It is actually compulsory for the government to implement hudud,” Tuan Ibrahim (picture) told The Malaysian Insider.

He hoped that DAP would understand and respect PAS principles.

“We have never questioned DAP or PKR policies. We can agree on certain things so we hope DAP will do the same,” said Tuan Ibrahim.

“Hudud law is only for Muslims, if it is implemented the non-Muslims would not be affected. So they don’t need to worry. I hope this issue won’t be turned into a controversy,” he added.

Meanwhile, PAS Youth chief Nasruddin Hassan said the party would continue to explain to DAP on the implementation of hudud.

“DAP does not understand what is hudud, so it is the responsibility of PAS to explain until they can understand,” said Nasruddin.

“We are not questioning DAP’s loyalty but we only want to explain what PAS has been fighting for,” he added.

He said it is DAP’s right to reject the Islamist party’s objective, but it would continue to fight for “Islamic principles”.

Nasruddin however said the difference in ideology would not affect their cooperation in Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

“The relationship between PAS and DAP is purely political so the issue of disagreement with DAP does not arise,” he said.

“PAS and DAP would continue to work in PR and we would not question the loyalty of any party in PR,” said Nasruddin.

Yesterday, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang said hudud law and Islamic state are not part of PR policy.

Lim said the party has always been fighting for a secular Malaysia.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh had also said that PR would not support the implementation of hudud if the coalition takes over the federal government.

Karpal said such a law is unconstitutional and every party must respect the constitution.

DAP made the statement a day after PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said Karpal’s rejection of hudud law was his personal opinion.

Karpal made the statement to dismiss Nik Aziz’s proposal for the implementation of Islamic laws to address social issues.

“The Federal Constitution only allows for Penal Code and other civil law, there is no room for hudud,” said Karpal.

Hudud or the Islamic criminal law imposes strict punishment, which includes amputation for stealing and stoning for fornication.

The Kelantan legislative assembly passed the Syariah Criminal Code II in 1993, which encompasses hudud law.

A similar was enacted in Terengganu in 2003 when the state was ruled by PAS.

The law however has not been enforced in both states.