Pakatan Rakyat top leaders remain non-committal over the coalition’s position on PAS’ assertion that hudud law would be implemented should the coalition take over the federal administration.

NONE At a press conference after the Pakatan leadership council meeting in Petaling Jaya today, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said that all component parties were free to air their respective party ideologies, but the coalition was guided by its common policy framework (CPF).

"We understand that Pakatan is composed of parties with differing ideologies and views... Each party is free to express their views based on their party's ideology," said Anwar.

He said that Pakatan acts on consensus, but declined to give a direct answer despite being asked four times on whether a consensus was reached over the implementation of hudud.

“Who is asking about hudud ? Only Umno! They themselves do not follow it (the law),” said Anwar when asked on the matter for a second time.

Pakatan to study syariah matters

Anwar said that Pakatan would be forming a "commission" to deliberate on the matter and come up with a conclusion soon.

Though he did not deliberate on this, it is believed that Anwar was referring to the promise in Pakatan's common policy framework (CPF) to establish a commission to study the overlap of civil and Syariah laws.

He said that the war of words between top PAS and DAP leaders over the issue was a mere misunderstanding and he blamed government-controlled press organisations for blowing the matter out of proportion.

"BN and the media it controls made much of the issue, this is because they are desperate to cover up cases of corruption and abuse of power like the RM52 billion allegedly missing in bumiputra share allocations," Anwar claimed.

                        

He was referring to the startling revelation made by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that out of the RM52 billion in shares accorded to bumiputras, only RM2 billion are still in bumiputera hands.

Najib said this in a written reply to Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng during the last Parliament session.

More Felda settlers to sue

Anwar said that the public should focus its attention on the abuse of power and corruption perpetuated by the federal government rather than disagreements within Pakatan partners, which he described as “common”.

Meanwhile, when asked about the final Federal Court decision to award RM11 million to Felda settlers who claimed they were cheated by the federal agency, PKR vice-president R Sivarasa said more settlers are expected to take up similar suits.

"Not only in Kelantan, but also in Pahang and Johor.. If this continues, Felda will soon be in an uncomfortable situation," said Sivarasa, a practicing lawyer who has taken up one such case.

Also at the press conference were PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Md Isa, PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang.

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