MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon concurred that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was technically correct when he explained PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill was not a "Hudud Bill".

However, Chong said the Bill would still ultimately lead to the implementation of Hudud.

“Technically, it is not a Hudud Bill, because if you table Hudud Bill, you need two-thirds majority (in the Dewan Rakyat).

“Yes, it is to enhance syariah laws,” Chong admitted.

But technicalities aside, Chong said the enhancement of punishments meted out by the Syariah Courts will pave way for full blown hudud.

“For us, it is a way forward for a full hudud (implementation) in this country, which is against the federal constitution,” Chong said in a press conference today in Kuala Lumpur today.

Yesterday, Najib said the uproar by BN component parties over the government's support for Hadi to table the Hudud Bill in Parliament on Thursday was a "misunderstanding".

This, he said, was because Hadi's Bill was not about Hudud and was merely to enahance the punishment the Syariah Courts can mete out.

Chong complained that BN component parties were not consulted when the government supported the tabling of Hadi's Bill.

“(Umno) did not get consent from component parties before they allowed Hadi to table a Private Member’s Bill," he said.

Najib had said that the uproar among BN component parties over Hadi’s Bill was a misunderstanding as it was not a truly Hudud Bill.

It is merely to amend the syariah laws and enhance the punishments that can be meted out by the Syariah Courts, he explained.

'BN components against any form of hudud'

When asked if the component parties accepted Najib’s explanation, Chong pointed out that MCA, MIC, Gerakan and SUPP had already held a press conference opposing hudud vehemently.

“Obviously when we have four component parties having a press conference to openly oppose (hudud), it already shows that we cannot accept any form of trying to turn this country into an Islamic country which applies hudud,” he said.

He stressed that they were not against Islam and that they respect the religious rights of Muslims.

They are merely defending the federal constitution, which he said stipulates that Malaysia remain a secular country, he insisted.

“We are not trying to intervene into Islam religious affairs.

“We are merely defending the rights of every Malaysians. Let it be equal for everybody,” he said.

Hadi's Private Member's Bill is officially named the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill 2016.

It is referred to as the "Hudud Bill" as it would ultimately pave the way for the partial implementation of the Islamic penal code, specifically in PAS-ruled Kelantan which had already passed an enactment to that effect.

The Kelantan state's enactment cannot be implemented as long as restrictions exists that limit Syariah Court sentencing.

Under the enactment, punishments using the rotan ranges from 40 strokes to 100 strokes.

Hadi’s bill seeks to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 or Act 355 which limits the Syariah Courts’ punishment to a maximum fine of RM5,000, three years' jail or six strokes of the rotan.

Chong also commented on the announcement of Sungai Panjang assemblyperson Budiman Mohd Zohdi as BN’s candidate for the Sungai Besar by-election.

Chong said Budiman was a good choice as he is “not difficult to sell to the Chinese community”.

He said Budiman is young, well-known, approachable and vibrant.

“With Budiman as the candidate for Sungai Besar, it is much easier for MCA to help with the campaign.

“At the same time, we cannot take for granted the challenges by the opposition,” he said.