Coming soon: Keadilan stand on hudud law

comments     Susan Loone     Published     Updated

Keadilan is expected to make a stand on the Syariah Criminal Offences (Hudud and Qisas) law passed in Terengganu recently.

Secretary-general Sahri Bahri said "discussions on the topic are underway" and that the party would make a decision at its supreme council meeting on Aug 22.

Sahri declined to reveal further details, but said the party's political bureau had completed discussions on the issue.

"If we have inspiration to make an immediate stand, we will let you know," he told malaysiakini .

Split in BA

The Islamic state issue has been a thorn in the flesh for the opposition since it was first raised, resulting in the DAP parting ways with the Barisan Alternatif (BA) last September.

The crisis between the DAP and BA heightened when the PAS-led Terengganu legislature tabled and passed the controversial hudud law over the objections of several quarters.

Recently, DAP challenged Keadilan and PRM leaders to make a stand on the issue if the parties claim to be multi-racial.

But PRM at its recent national congress in Kuala Lumpur said the party would not support a theocratic state.

'Law is inappropriate'

It is learnt that non-Muslim leaders in Keadilan are finding it increasingly difficult to explain the controversial issue to members at the grassroots.

While it is difficult for the party's Muslim leaders to publicly denounce the Islamic state or hudud law, some feel uneasy over being mere apologists for PAS, which insists on establishing a theocratic state if it comes to power.

It is believed that Keadilan's proposed stand on the issue will include the party's support for PAS' right to table and pass the Islamic law.

But some leaders said they would protest the move and request the party to exclude the statement of support, declaring instead that while "Muslims cannot say no to an Islamic state or hudud law, Malaysia is a multi-racial country".

"(Therefore), the law is not appropriate for a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural Malaysia and the law should not be applied to non-Muslims."

Election strategies

Meanwhile, Sahri said the party would decide on Saturday the venue of the annual general meeting to be held in October.

He said the venue would most probably be in Sungai Petani because it symbolises BA's "serious attempt" to capture Kedah — Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's home state — in the coming general elections.

Sahri said the party does not envisage a clash of seats with its ally PAS although the latter has made significant inroads into the state after the last general elections.

"Our relationship with PAS is amicable, we are on good terms and do not see a problem with seat allocations in Kedah," he said.

Sahri, however, did not deny there would be possible clashes with the DAP on this matter.

"Let's put it this way, we will finalise the matter (seat allocation) with our BA partners first, only then will we talk to the DAP," he added.



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