The new MCA leadership appears "helpless and weak" in objecting to PAS' plans to table a Private Member's Bill in the Dewan Rakyat to pave way for the implementation of hudud in Kelantan, its former MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek says.

"I can only see some second-in-command leaders and MCA Youth making statements on the issue, but I have failed to see a more active, firmer and more practical stand... by MCA," Chua said in a press statement today.

He said the MCA leadership should take the lead by coordinating a meeting between Chinese-based BN component parties and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to state their opposition.

Chua, whose tenure as MCA president saw him leading a fervent anti-hudud campaign, added that it is currently the opportune moment for MCA to prove it is different from DAP in standing up against PAS.

Previously, PAS had stated itsintention to table the Bill after Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom ( right ), who is in charge of Islamic affairs, said he would assist the Kelantan government in implementing hudud.

PAS has the numbers

After BN was routed in Kelantan in the 1990 general election, the PAS Kelantan government enacted the Syariah Criminal Code (II) Enactment 1993. However, the law was never put into effect because it was in conflict with the Federal Constitution.

Some Umno MPs have stated that they will support the Bill, although there are few who object to it. Non-Muslim MPs have overwhelmingly stated their objections .

Chua pointed out that there are currently 21 MPs from PAS and 99 from Umno, thus both parties have 109 MPs. Assuming that they all support the Bill, they will be just three votes shy of passing it.

"There are two Muslim MPs in DAP. There are also Muslim MPs in PKR, what are their stand? Will they object against the implementation of hudud? If they do not dare to object, the Bill will definitely be passed in Parliament," Chua said.

In view of this, he said, MCA must do whatever it can to convince the prime minister to not support the Bill.

 

"Sadly, our party leaders do not dare to tell Umno right in the face because they are too scared to lose Umno’s support in their constituencies, which will affect their political careers.

 

"The current MCA leadership seems to be self-serving, only think about their political careers and support from the Muslim voters," he said.

Soi Lek feels vindicated

Chua fingered current MCA president Liow Tiong Lai as among those who refused to make hudud a campaign issue during the 13th general election.

However, he noted that current MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong ( right ), then MCA Youth chief, was among the few willing to explain the impact of hudud to the Chinese community.

"Now that PAS has officially stated that it will table a Private Members’ Bill to implement hudud, this proves that I have done the right thing to talk about hudud during the last GE.

I had reminded the Chinese voters not to strengthen PAS and allow Pakatan Rakyat to make this happen. What happened now has proven that I was not threatening the Chinese," he said.

Chua has consistently accused the DAP of being a PAS conduit for the implementation of hudud and coined the "A vote for DAP is a vote for PAS" slogan used by MCA.

In an immediate response, Liow brushed off Chua's criticism, describing the latter as "history".
 
"For me, he is my past leader. He can say anything he like. That is history," he told reporters after a meeting with Chinese guilds and associations.
 
However, he stressed that MCA and the Chinese associations were always against turning Malaysia into an Islamic state nor the implementation of hudud law.

Related stories

Court: Karpal's death no excuse to delay Sodomy II

KL school not allowed as Karpal memorial venue

Karpal Singh a political man of his times

Zaid: Post-Karpal, DAP left meek on hudud

Soi Lek: MCA 'helpless' as hudud Bill looms

PKR denies holding prayers for 'martyr' Karpal

Penang Islamic authorities back hudud move