There was a Cabinet meeting yesterday on the hudud amendments in Kelantan but reports show that Umno and MCA ministers came out with different impressions on its outcome.

According to a Bernama report yesterday, Umno ministers were unanimous backing the support shown by the party's elected representatives in Kelantan.

"We agree fully that the law should be passed as it is Allah's law which we must support.   

"There is no question of us opposing Allah's laws, but its implementation must be improved," the report quoted Rural and Regional Development Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Mohd Shafie, who is also the Umno vice-president, however said further comments could not be made on the matter as Umno had agreed that it would be done by a specially-appointed spokesman.

On Thursday, the Kelantan State Assembly unanimously passed amendments to the Syariah Criminal Code II 1993, better known as the hudud law.

All 44 state assemblypersons - 31 from PAS, 12 from BN, and one from PKR - were present when the amendment bill was passed.

Divisive issue for BN

However, Sin Chew Daily’s report on the same meeting yesterday showed cracks in the ruling coalition on this divisive issue.

It quoted MCA president Liow Tiong Lai giving a different version.

The Transport Minister claimed most of the cabinet members were against hudud because it is against the federal constitution.

The Chinese daily said at the discussion, Liow reiterated MCA’s stand against hudud and urged the cabinet to uphold the constitution.

“Cabinet emphasised that the hudud bill tabled by the kelantan government is not according to the spirit of federal constitution and is against the constitution,” he was quoted.

Liow had said cabinet was very concerned about this issue and wants to handle carefully Pas' 'conspiracy'.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will also be issuing a statement from BN on the matter today, the report said.

However, discordant voices on hudud within BN ranks look set to boil over.

Sin Chew Daily today also reported that 13 component parties of BN are drafting a joint statement to firmly state their stand against the implementation of hudud in the country.

The report said the rare joint statement by BN component parties showed that they view hudud and the impact of the penal code on society seriously.

The parties also believe hudud to be against the constitution and affecting the harmony of Malaysia’s multi-ethnic society.

As of today, there is still no sight of the statement which Najib was supposed to have issued on BN’s stand on hudud.