Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today called on PAS to engage Umno if it is serious in implementing the hudud law in Kelantan.

Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, Khairy said that it was unfair for PAS to blame Umno for standing in its way to implement hudud law as the Islamic party has not made any serious attempt to engage the ruling party on the controversial issue.

NONE "Since the issue has broken down in the mid-90s, there have been no attempts by PAS to approach Umno - since this is an Islamic matter - to seek our cooperation to amend the (federal) constitution (to implement hudud law).

“So it is unfair to blame BN or Umno when they have in fact not been serious," said Khairy.

He was speaking during a press conference after attending the National MCA Youth General Assembly in his capacity as BN Youth chief.

Khairy said PAS should stop referring to a letter written by then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed to spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat opposing the implementation of hudud, pointing out that Umno now has a new president.

While noting that BN's stance is not in favour of hudud law, Khairy said PAS should still seek Prime Minister and Umno president Najib Razak's support to amend the federal constitution.

"So if they are serious, then come see the prime minister, revive the ‘muzakarah’ (discussion) between Umno and PAS."

PAS has changed DAP

MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai and MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong who were also present, however, chose to put the blame of the hudud controversy on PAS' coalition partner, DAP.

"DAP have been trying to convince the public they are able to change PAS but now DAP has been changed by PAS, they have remained silent (on the issue of hudud)," said Liow.

He added that even though DAP's slogan is 'change', the party's voice has remained that of DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang since his tenure as secretary-general in the 1969.

"It is still the voice of Lim Kit Siang in DAP, there is no new idea in DAP... so DAP needs to be changed, DAP is an old and haggard party."

Both MCA and DAP have vehemently opposed the implementation of hudud law, with MCA president Chua Soi Lek recently threatening to leave BN and DAP leaders threatening to resign should hudud law be implemented.