If hudud is part of Islam, thus to reject hudud law will be seen as akin to rejecting Islam. I do not think that it is proper for anyone to disrespect Islam. However, given Malaysia’s multiracial and multi-religious fabric, we can reject PAS and its intention to enforce hudud law into public life instead.

In Malaysia we can reject the only political party that has been relentlessly pushing for the implementation of hudud law and other theocratic elements into the laws of Malaysia. Therefore as Malaysians who would defend the spirit of our constitution, we must reject and remove PAS’ law-making powers in Parliament, state assemblies and in our government administration.

As for Umno, they have always been contesting against PAS in every general election, and Umno has never proposed the implementation of hudud law. MCA has also never supported PAS. PAS members are not appointed to government administration at the federal level or in BN-controlled state governments. It is only in Pakatan’s states that PAS members are being appointed.

Therefore, the only party at the present moment which is in the best and effective position to stop and give an ultimatum to PAS over their plans to implement hudud law is none other than the Pakatan state government of Selangor, currently headed by PKR and DAP.

The Pakatan Selangor government is currently led by Menteri Besar Azmin Ali of PKR, together with four Selangor DAP exco members. Also among the exco members are two PAS state assemblypersons - Zaidy Abdul Talib (Taman Templer) and Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (Sijankang) - both of whom were appointed by Azmin, and subsequently can be removed by him at any time.

If PKR and DAP are serious in their stand against the implementation of hudud law by PAS, they must thus immediately remove these two PAS members from the Selangor state exco. This is the most effective legal way to stop and warn PAS once and for all. Also, other PAS members appointed by the state government to various government agencies, including councilors to the various local governments, must be terminated with immediate effect.

Both Selangor PKR and DAP, headed by Azmin Ali and Tony Pua respectively, have the power to do so. DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang should also urge the immediate termination of all PAS appointed representatives in PKR- and DAP- controlled administrations. This would be the best and most effective way to stop PAS, instead of shifting the blame to MCA president Liow Tiong Lai or even Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

TAN GIM TUAN is MCA English speaking bureau chairperson, Petaling Jaya Utara MCA division chairperson and Petaling Jaya Utara Barisan Nasional chairperson.