Gerakan's Teng slams DAP for 'three bluffs' on hudud
Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow has accused the DAP of telling “three bluffs” on PAS’ intention to implement hudud law.
Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow has accused the DAP of telling “three bluffs” on PAS’ intention to implement hudud law.
Teng questioned why DAP was opposing PAS’ move to implement hudud in Kelantan when both parties have signed a document prior to the May 5 general election allowing and recognising the latter’s agenda to pursue the Islamic law.
“Why are you opposing it now? In the document it says that DAP and PAS have only 5 percent differences, surely you can sort out the matter, right?” he told DAP in a press conference today.
While at it, Teng displayed a statement with signatures by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.
“We want to know Penang Pakatan Rakyat’s stand on hudud, DAP needs to fulfill its basic and minimum obligation to non-Muslims by explaining its stand,” Teng added.
Teng is taking Lim to task for asking the Penang BN to state its stand on hudud, while the DAP’s ally, PAS will be tabling a Private Member’s Bill on hudud in Parliament on June 9.
The bill is to get Parliament to approve the implementation of the Islamic criminal law in Kelantan, and to avoid any legal hurdles in its course.
The issue has created divisions in both the BN and Pakatan coalitions, with Gerakan, MCA, MIC and DAP strongly opposing the move.
Teng said the Penang government had said it will not implement the Islamic criminal law in the state but the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Council (MAINPP), in a statement on April 23, had expressed support for PAS’ move to practise the law in Kelantan.
He repeated his query on why Lim had not asked MAINPP to retract its support for hudud although the chief minister has chided him for saying so, clarifying that the council is not a state agency but comes directly under the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“The MAINPP president, Salleh Man, is appointed according to the recommendations submitted by the state government to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” Teng noted.
“Besides, Salleh, who is the Permatang Pasir Pas assemblyperson, is the chairperson of MAINPP, while state executive councillor Abdul Malik Kassim sits on the council, along with the Penang state secretary and financial officer,” Teng added.
Teng said thirdly, based on a newspaper cutting on September 2010, Johor DAP chief Boo Cheng Hou had expressed his support for hudud.
“DAP should face the consequences of such political bluffs as what they said before elections and what they are doing now are totally two different things,” Teng claimed.
Asked about Penang BN’s stand on hudud, Teng shot back, “We are not the state government, the issue does not arise.”
‘BN, too, unable to reach a consensus’
However, Teng admitted that state BN coalition, like its rival Pakatan, is unable to arrive at a consensus on the issue.
“If DAP says it will not implement hudud in Penang, state BN will support you but Umno will object to it,” he said.
“But it seems you do not have a stand, so better make a stand first before asking us to make one,” he added.
“We haven't discussed the issue but upfront I can tell you that we will not be able to reach a consensus as the whole issue is started by Pakatan, not us,” he stressed.
Related stories
Hudud portends bad news for DAP in coming polls
PAS' Bill can kill BN, MCA Youth tells Khairy
Wee: Mkini correct, MCA will 'review' position in BN
Gerakan's Teng slams DAP for 'three bluffs' on hudud
Isma agrees to hudud for non-Muslims
