Umno Youth exco member Fathul Bari Mat Jahaya says now is the appropriate time to table the hudud private member’s bill in Parliament.

 

He said with the threat of the militant Islamic state (IS) which has brought Islamophobia to the fore, some may view this as reason enough to defer the tabling of the bill but he argues otherwise.

 

“We should not be afraid of our religion. And why should we run away from explaining about Islam?

 

“In my view, this is the appropriate time to table the hudud bill to give an explanation to non-Muslims, while the world is focussed on the IS military threat,” he was quoted in Berita Harian today.

 

Law expert Shad Saleem Faruqi had commented to the daily yesterday that this may not be the appropriate time to table the bill, following the negative perception and fear of Islam (Islamophobia).

 

F athul Bari ( right ) is also the executive adviser to Pertubuhan Ilmuan Malaysia, an Umno-linked group of young religious scholars.

 

He said Muslims are responsible for giving explanations on hudud laws, including its concept and the effects of the implementation.

 

Whether it is passed or not in the Parliament is secondary, he said, but the priority is to make sure this issue does not become a polemic or agenda for those who seek political mileage.

 

“What is the purpose of forming the special technical committee at the state or federal level if the process of tabling the private member’s bill cannot be done soon?” he asked.

 

“We do not want to see the formation of the committee as lip service by those with vested political interests to implement hudud.

 

Whether hudud can be implemented or not comes second. What is important is we must proceed with this matter being discussed in Parliament,” said Fathul Bari.

 

The daily also reported Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah as saying they have not decided yet on the date to table the private member’s bill.

 

Groups welcome Umno and PAS joint discussions

 

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom has announced the formation of the national technical committee on the implementation of hudud.

 

The Kelantan PAS government and the then Terengganu PAS government have passed the controversial hudud legislation in 1993 and 2002 respectively.

 

Kelantan PAS government will have a special state legislative assembly seating on Dec 29 to discuss the private member’s bill in a bid to implement it.

 

Meanwhile, Sinar Harian reports Umno Supreme Council member Irmohizam Ibrahim ( left ) as welcoming move for discussion on the implementation of hudud between Umno and PAS.

 

“I welcome the discussion to further strengthen Islam and the Malay institution – either by Umno or PAS – as what is needed to be proven is that despite the political differences, it does not restrict us from discussing Islam. What is important is PAS is sincere.

 

Puteri Umno chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said she has no reservations about the implementation of hudud. 

 

What is needed, she said, is for there to be unity in Islamic matters, despite Muslims coming from different political affiliations.

 

The daily also quoted Selangor exco member Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi as saying now is not the appropriate time to implement hudud in the state.

 

The PAS assemblyperson said DAP and PKR needs to understand Islamic law first before hudud is implemented in Selangor.

 

“We will not implement it as long as the people here are not ready,” he said.