PAS today invited DAP chairperson Karpal Singh to embrace the diversity of opinion among Pakatan Rakyat coalition partners instead of harping on the party's Islamic agenda.

At a press conference today, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang  sidestepped queries about Karpal's demands for Pakatan to thrash out the matter, and instead said Pakatan should focus on common goals.

"This issue does not arise. Our concept is to continue with Pakatan and focus on common issues such as poverty eradication, fairness, Islam as the federal religion, Malay special privilleges with the rights of others being protected and constitutional monarchy.

"These is the concept that we have agreed upon. There are differences, but we will celebrate these differences among ourselves," he told the press at the PAS headquarters.

Asked to comment on the party's stance on whether it will implement hudud law if it came to power, Hadi replied: "I have made official statements many times, there is no need for me to repeat, for now we would like to focus on the present."

That (hudud), can wait when we are in power, we are not yet in power. For now let us focus on the challenges in front of us which is the general election," he added.

‘Harun's stance not party's stance'

 

Hadi also declined to comment on PAS Ulama chief Harun Taib's controversial suggestion that the party could ditch its current partners in Pakatan in favour of other political parties that were favourable in implmenting hudud law.

NONE However, PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali ( right ) moved to distance the party from Harun's statement, stating: "the party's stance is what the president says," he said.

Responding to claims that the party had abused the term "Islam" for political purposes, Hadi said it welcomed any NGOs to discuss on the matter.

"We are prepared for muzakarah (discussion), the PAS headquarters is open for all NGOs to discuss with us including Umno.

"PAS has been consistent for with Islam in line with its constitution and the Syura council," he said.

However, Mustafa added that the reference to Umno was merely on matters of Islam and not on political partnership.