Withdraw hudud bill to prove pursuance of moderate agenda, Hadi told
DAP today called on PAS acting president Abdul Hadi Awang to withdraw the controversial Terengganu Syariah Criminal Enactment if he is sincere in pursuing the late Fadzil Noor's moderate agenda.
In a press statement, party national chairperson Lim Kit Siang said the law must be revoked because it is against the Federal Constitution, violates human rights and discriminates women.
Most importantly, he stressed, the law violates Barisan Alternatif's common manifesto where the parties pledge to "uphold and respect the fundamental principles of the Malaysian constitution".
DAP quit the opposition front last year after failing to reach an understanding with PAS over its aim to establish an Islamic state should it come into power.
"After he became the new PAS leader, Hadi said Malaysians should judge him by his words and actions and not from what had been written and said about him," said Lim.
The DAP leader added that Hadi, who is also Terengganu Menteri Besar, said that he would pursue with Fadzil's moderate agenda and there will be no change in PAS's outlook and political orientation.
"I wish to publicly call on Hadi to underscore his assurance that PAS under his leadership will pursue a moderate agenda by withdrawing the Syariah Criminal Enactment bill," said Lim.
The bill has evoked strong criticisms from political leaders, including Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as well as non-governmental organisations.
Hadi was appointed as acting president following Fadzil's death on Sunday two weeks after he underwent a heart-bypass surgery in Kuala Lumpur.
Hadi is also expected to replace Fadzil as the parliamentary Opposition Leader.
Umno developments
On the developments in Umno, Lim predicted that Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's position as Umno president, after Mahathir steps down, will not be challenged.
However, he expects a struggle to erupt for the deputy president post which will also determine how long Abdullah will remain as prime minister.
Lim said the question now is who will become the number two in Umno and the government will Abdullah let the delegates decide or appoint his deputy himself.
The veteran politician believes that Abdullah's biggest weakness is that he was not elected but appointed as the Umno deputy president in 1999.
His appointment was later endorsed by the party's supreme council which decided that the president and deputy president posts will not be contested at the Umno annual general assembly in 2000.
However, Lim is certain that Mahathir will not change his mind about resigning and is confident that Abdullah will be the nation's fifth prime minister.
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