PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s remark that Penang had negotiated the construction of the second bridge with Putrajaya has irked DAP.

 

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said while it may be Hadi’s business to keep everyone in his party in the dark , but that is not acceptable in a coalition like Pakatan Rakyat.

 

Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, wants Hadi to show proof that the state had negotiated with the federal government on the second bridge, which was launched in 2013.

 

“They never wanted to talk to us, discuss or negotiate,” Lim told reporters in Bukit Mertajam today.

 

“It's nonsense, please don't lie or drag us into your party and internal elections crisis, we are not involved,” was Lim’s message to Hadi.

 

Hadi ( left ) is facing intense challenges especially from the progressives within PAS as the party gears up for its internal polls - conducted biannually - in June.

 

Lim said even if Hadi has been keeping others in the dark, it was a wrong move and he should not repeat the mistake.

 

He added that the DAP felt more justified now to have decided to break-up with Hadi over his move to table a private members bill on hudud in Parliament.

 

“Now we have more justification on why we broke up with him. It is because he does as he likes, unilaterally. We cannot work with someone who never cooperates or consult with his allies,” Lim added.

 

'Against democracy'

Lim said Hadi’s leadership style is against the basic concept of democracy as in the party or coalition, collective decision making and responsibilities were the norm.

 

Lim said Hadi could run PAS as he chose but in Pakatan, where the DAP is involved, the latter cannot operate on the same basis of keeping others in the dark.

 

“This is not a democracy then, but autocracy. That is why we cannot collaborate with a leader like him, that is why we broke up with him,” Lim said.

 

Lim fired this salvo when Hadi defended his actions for not consulting Pakatan, stating that hudud was the PAS-led Kelantan government's prerogative. 

 

Hadi had also describe the matter as “normal” as he had presented a similar private member's bill in 1996, which he also did not notify DAP.

 

"It's like how Penang had negotiated for the second bridge with the federal government,” he was quoted in Malaysiakini today.

 

"But Kelantan cannot negotiate on Syariah matters with the federal government?" he had asked.

 

The private member's bill - vehemently opposed by DAP and not supported by PKR - seeks to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.

 

The Act currently limits punishment meted out by syariah courts to no more than three years’ imprisonment, up to RM5,000 fine and six strokes of rotan for certain offences.

 

The amendments will allow the syariah courts to issue punishment according to Kelantan's hudud legislation, which among others include stoning to death and up to 80 lashings.

 

However, the bill has deferred by Parliament to the next sitting in May due to time constraints.