Barisan Alternatif parties seem to be at crossroads over the PAS-led Terengganu government's proposal to implement hudud laws in the state with Keadilan today saying it supports the controversial move.

Keadilan vice-president Sheik Azmi Ahmad who said this, added that Terengganu Menteri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang should be commended for his 'openness' in handling the criticisms against the law.

He said the PAS government has always considered the people's views before gazetting any bills.

Yesterday, Parti Rakyat Malaysia another BA ally criticised PAS for its insistence on implementing the hudud bill and described it as a "political ploy to out-Islamise" BN.

Azmi today said that it was unfortunate that the "issue has been politicised by Umno, Barisan Nasional and the media to the extent that the principles of hudud are challenged."

"They questioned why the bill was not presented to the public although Umno and BN had never practised this," he added in a statement.

The proposed law has come under fire from parties on both sides of the political divide as well as non-governmental organisations.

Discriminatory bill

Last week, Wanita Keadilan submitted a memorandum to Abdul Hadi calling for a review of the bill which is said to be discriminatory towards women.

Women and Family Development Minister Sharizat Abdul Jalil also jumped on the bandwagon and urged women to unite and reject the law.

Following the widespread opposition, the state government decided to delay the tabling of the bill and is considering amending the disputed provisions.

The proposed amendments will include laws pertaining to rape which places the burden of proof on the victim..

According to the provision, a woman can be charged for slanderous accusations if she fails to provide four credible witnesses to prove the rape.

The proposed law was also criticised for only recognising Muslim men who are aqil baligh (have come of age) and adil (fair) as witnesses.

Meanwhile, Azmi, who is an ulama (religious scholar), urged the discussions on the syariah, hudud and Muslim laws to be made public and not be merely restricted to Terengganu.

"Such attitude will not clear misconceptions about Islam and the syariah. Instead, it will only narrow the perspective of the public especially the non-Muslims who are witnessing this battle negatively," he said.

Azmi also claimed that hudud protects the dignity and respectability of women involved in adultery cases where they too can be called as witnesses.

"There is a need to explain that the Prophet accepted the evidence of a rape victim when he was on his way to prayer and have sentenced the perpetrator to death immediately without seeking other witnesses," Azmi narrated, espousing that women can give evidence in hudud.

Approval needed

In a related development, DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang said the Terengganu government should not proceed with the bill until it has been approved by the Barisan Alternatif Presidential Council.

"PAS leaders have agreed when the DAP was still in the BA that the Terengannu government would fully consult with the other BA parties on controversial legislation. The proposed bill clearly comes under this category," he said.

Lim said the refusal of the state leaders to refer the bill to the attorney-general also clearly contravened the Malaysian Constitution.

"[This is] especially with regards to the constitutional limits restricting state syariah laws from imposing sentences exceeding three years' jail, RM5,000 fine or six strokes of the rotan," he said.

"[This also] raises the question whether it has the approval of the BA Presidential Council," he added.