DAP is backing Selangor speaker Hannah Yeoh who has decided to allow a motion on hudud to be tabled by BN in the state assembly.

Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said Pakatan Rakyat-led state assemblies do not function like the BN's, which tries to stop elected representatives from exercising their democratic rights and freedom of expression.

Lim said Yeoh was merely allowing the democratic rights of assemblypersons to be exercised, even though the party may not agree with the motion.

However, he added, DAP has instructed all its assemblypersons to vote against the motion.

"She is only exercising her role and duty constitutionally. She cannot take sides but be neutral as she can.

"Do you want her to be like BN speakers or democratic like Pakatan speakers?" Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, asked reporters.

"Let the motion be debated and let the assembly decide. But now, it is clear as to who is first to move the motion. It is BN and Umno, and not Pakatan," he added.

He also said Yeoh had no justification to deny the motion unless she wanted to be "autocratic".

He recalled that Pakatan MPS often had their private motions rejected by Parliament Speaker Pandikar Amin.

"We have sent in many private motions but they have never seen the light of day in Parliament because the speaker refuses to allow us to exercise our democratic rights and freedom of expression," Lim added.

DAP has vehemently opposed its ally PAS’ decision to table a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament on the implementation of hudud in Kelantan, describing it as "unconstitutional".

PAS eventually withdrew its decision to table the motion, saying the party would discuss the matter at a special taskforce set up by the federal government.