Khairy: Hudud proposal just storm in tea cup
Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has brushed off a proposal by a Johor Umno assemblyperson for implementation of the hudud, saying that the matter is much ado about nothing.
Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has brushed off a proposal by a Johor Umno assemblyperson for implementation of the hudud, saying that the matter is much ado about nothing.
Commenting on this after a BN Youth event in Wangsa Maju yesterday, Khairy said it remains Kemelah assemblyperson Ayub Rahmat's "personal opinion" and does not reflect the stand of either the party or Johor Umno.
"It is just a storm in tea cup...It has not gained traction (with Umno members)...I know (Umno deputy minister for Islamic affairs) Mashitah (Ibrahim) said something, but for now we have no intention of implementing it. Our stand is very clear," he said.
He, however, cautiously said this does not mean that Umno rejects the hudud which is "part and parcel of the Quran" although its "application is subject to interpretation".
The Rembau MP also brushed off views that the raising of the matter has caused friction within the BN with MCA yet again reiterating that it will leave the coalition if hudud is implemented.
"MCA has to say something and we understand that. It's not big deal. (The hudud discussion) will come out once in a while but they're personal views that do not affect the party stand," he said.
The hudud discussion is also a recurring discussion with Pakatan Rakyat, with the opposition coalition holding that this is not part of its common policy framework.
'Nation will go bust in a year under Anwar'
In his speech, Khairy said he joined Umno in 1999 after much deliberation because he saw how then finance minister Anwar Ibrahim was going to sign away the country's economic sovereignty to the International Monetary Fund to overcome the financial crisis.
“I looked at Anwar and (then PM) Dr Mahathir Mohamad and I supported Mahathir, BN and Umno.
“Many are surprised to know this because everyone knows my history with Mahathir,” said Khairy, who is the son-in-law of fifth PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is often criticised by Mahathir.
He said “history will repeat itself” if Anwar leads the nation, with his “promises of the moon and the stars” far outstripping the country's financial capabilities.
Khairy claimed that if Anwar was to fulfil all his election promises – which ranged from abolishing highway tolls to free tertiary education – the country would go bust “within a year” and have to go begging to the IMF.
“The IMF will come in and ask 'what do you have?' and tell us to list Petronas so foreign investors can buy into it. Our national resources will be sold just like that,” he said, adding that other major government-linked companies would also likely be sold off.
Alternatively, he said, Anwar would not fulfil his litany of promises if Pakatan Rakyat comes into power – and the country would therefore be saved from bankruptcy.
“He knows it will lead to bankruptcy, so he will not fulfil his promises. So, why would you want to vote for the opposition? It's either financial ruin or unfulfilled promises,” Khairy added.
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