Like millions of Malaysian nationalists, I am deeply concerned over the outcome of tomorrow’s (June 8) crucial Barisan National meeting to consider the hard hudud issues.

The leaders of the BN coalition, led by Umno, will preside over the vital meeting to resolve the wide split in views within BN over the Private Member’s Bill, that was permitted by Umno to be tabled for debate, over and above important government business. Most people and especially moderate Malaysians of all races and religions, now ask, “Why this unholy haste?” Was it all for narrow political expediency, even at the expense of national cohesion and unity ?

Obviously, the hudud issue is religious and political in nature, even racial. That is why it is so emotional and has to be resolved satisfactorily, by the ruling BN, which is duty bound to look after the interests of all Malaysians. This sacred duty is absolutely essential in order to genuinely protect and promote national cohesion and unity.

Now the burning question in moderate Malaysian minds is whether the Umno and BN leaders will have the courage , conviction and wisdom to arrive at a fair and reasonable consensus at the worrisome Wednesday June 8 BN meeting? Will BN leaders follow the rich tradition of our founding fathers, to have full consultations and sincere political will to develop consensus?

Or would the BN ignore the determined rejection of stealthy creeping hudud, from all its major non Malay/Muslim BN partners and go its own way? In other words, we all wearily wonder, whether justice, fairness and righteousness will prevail at the watershed Wednesday meeting, that will strengthen, rather than weaken or even destroy the hitherto successful BN coalition?

We all hope that the BN traditional spirit of compromise and conciliation will stand out as its hallmark. We hope and pray that all Malaysians will be able to celebrate goodwill and understanding and mutual respect as taught by our great religions and in the spirit of the government’s promotion of wasatiyah.

Suggestions

In the spirit of wasatiyah may I offer some suggestions for a BN compromise, which could include the following considerations:

1) Withdraw the Hadi Bill.

2) BN and especially Umno should harness all its resources to reject the Hadi Bill,

3) Amend the proposed Bill to enable the Hadi Bill to incorporate all the current Penal Code punishments and penalties, without any elements of the harsh and even brutal hudud elements of ancient times.

Conclusion

Finally, the outcome of Wednesday’s June 8 BN meeting will show all Malaysians and the world at large whether Malaysia is to move forward into the light of national cohesion and unity, with peace and progress or slide into the dark ages of decline and disintegration.

Therefore like millions of moderate and progressive Malaysians, I humbly appeal to the BN and especially the Umno leaders, to save the day for Malaysia and for all true Malaysians for now and the future.

RAMON NAVARATNAM is chairperson of Asli/Centre of Public Policy Studies.