MCA president Liow Tiong Lai has refused to commit MCA into confronting Umno on the Malay party’s position on the implementation of hudud in Kelantan.

At a press conference yesterday, Liow was asked if MCA would request Umno to make its position clear, but he sidestepped the question by blaming Pakatan Rakyat for the situation.

"This topic is created by Pakatan. Pakatan should be explaining the matter. We must go to the root of the problem. The ones that created it, must solve it, especially the Pakatan states.

"DAP talks a lot, but it has no sincerity in resolving this," he said.

PAS aims to table a Private Member's Bill in the Dewan Rakyat to seek legislative amendments to enable Kelantan's Syariah Criminal Code (II) Enactment 1993 to come into effect.

The law prescribes medieval-era corporal punishment, such as amputations and stoning, for offences such as theft and adultery, respectively.

‘Soi Lek is history’

Some Umno MPs, including minister in charge of Islamic affairs Jamil Khir Baharom, have stated their support for the Bill, while non-Muslim MPs have voiced opposition.

Four Chinese-based BN component parties - Gerakan, MCA, Liberal Democratic Party and Sarawak United People's Party - have stated their opposition as well.

Former MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek yesterday criticised Liow for not taking an aggressive stance on this issue, accusing Liow of trying not to upset his constituents, who are mostly Muslims. Liow is the Bentong MP.

However, Liow has refused to be drawn into a war of words with his predecessor, describing him as "history".

"He is my former president. He can say whatever he wants. That is history," Liow said.