The implementation of hudud law is an issue championed by PAS and Umno therefore is not obliged to respond to it, says Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

“Why should Umno have to reply? It is something PAS has been fighing for and now PAS is talking about welfare state and other rights... there are so many inconsistencies,” he said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this evening.

However, the Umno vice-president side-stepped a question on the party’s stance towards hudud law, saying that he had yet to consult his party.

“That onesI have to discuss with other Umno members,” he said.

Hishammuddin added that the media should instead pose the question to the opposition.

“Don’t ask me, ask PAS themselves, because they are the ones fighting for hudud before... it’s only fair for the media, especially the alternative media, to ask that question to the opposition,” he said.

No discussion with MCA yet

On MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek’s statement that the Chinese-based party would part with Umno should Umno attempt to implement hudud law, Hishammuddin said the matter had not been raised in the ruling coalition.

“We have not discussed that with Chua, it has not (been) raised in the BN, I’d like that debate to be between PAS, DAP and PKR,” he said.

The controversy of hudud law was revived after former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad told Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat to “ go ahead and implement hudud law” as he was no longer in power to oppose it.

Nik Aziz responded by calling on the present Prime Minister, Najib Abdul Razak, to withdraw the federal government’s previous opposition to hudud law, leading once again to fierce debate within the component parties in both the government and opposition coalitions.

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