MCA has urged DAP and PKR to immediately seek the revocation of the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (II) Enactment 1993 rather than defend the hardline-based PAS.

The Islamic party's theocratic aims have always been a thorn in the ties between the party and its Pakatan Rakyat allies, especially DAP, Kelantan MCA said today.

NONEIts secretary, Tan Ken Ten, noted that neither the country nor the state could execute two types of criminal laws.

"Furthermore, local authorities in Kelantan already have a number of local by-laws, which when imposed on non-Muslims jeopardise their livelihoods and lifestyles," Tan said.

He then referred to report that quoted Kelantan Syariah Court chief judge Mohd Daud as saying that the Kelantan syariah court was ready to implement the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (II) Enactment if the state government was ready to enforce that law.

"This enactment, which was unanimously passed by the Kelantan state assembly in 1993, reflects that PAS' urging for hudud has gained recognition and support, and that the syariah court was ready to execute such law.

"While Kelantan state has to undertake plenty of preparation to see to the implementation of PAS' hudud law, these laws can be enforced so long as judges have been appointed to preside after the federal constitution has been amended," he added in a press statement.

Tan said these remarks had caused anxiety among Kelantan residents, especially the non-Muslim community.

Although the criminal enactment was passed two decades ago, he said, the judiciary never had any case brought before it based on this enactment.

'Remove the fears of the non-Muslims'

"However, local authorities within the Kelantan state government have from time to time carried out PAS-based hudud law without DAP nor PKR criticising them.

"It is better for DAP and PKR to call for the revocation of related PAS-led hardline by-laws to remove the concerns and fears of non-Muslims in the state," he added.

Regardless of the actions of DAP or PKR leaders in defending the Kelantan state government helmed by PAS, Tan said, the relevant syariah criminal law still existed in the state.

"Only its revocation may secure popular support," Tan  pointed out.

"The position of Kelantan MCA and the non-Muslim community have been very clear. We absolutely oppose any moves by the Kelantan state government to enforce PAS hudud law.

"The actions of local councils in imposing PAS' ultra-conservative religious-based by-laws have seriously infringed the interests of non-Muslims. Therefore, once any PAS hudud law is executed at the federal level, the interests of non-Muslims will only erode deeper," he added.

Yesterday, PAS urged BN MP for Kerteh Annuar Musa to convince the federal government to allow the implementation of hudud in Kelantan.

However, Annuar urged PAS to first convince its ally PKR to accept the implementation of the law in Kelantan. DAP has no representatives in the state.