PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has been slammed by the People's Progressive Party (PPP) for his relative silence on PAS' insistence to push for a Private Member's Bill to implement hudud in Kelantan.

“Why has Anwar, the PKR adviser and also Opposition Leader in Parliament, not spoken about this matter?

“Why is he keeping quiet till today? Is he afraid that he will lose his support of the Malay community?” PPP information chief A  Chandrakumanan ( left ) asked in a statement yesterday.

Similarly, Chandrakumanan said, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng only went as far as saying that hudud is not part of the consensus of the Pakatan Rakyat member parties.

“So why are Anwar and Lim keeping silent over PAS wanting to implement hudud? Is this just a sandiwara (drama) by the opposition pact?” he asked.

“(There is) no point (for) rhetoric; show action by reprimanding PAS for being obstinate in its stand in wanting to implement the hudud law.”

Chandrakumanan said this was unlike BN, which for the past 57 years, all major policies were made with consensus of all 13 component parties.

'Amputation a harsh punishment'

Meanwhile, MCA's Syariah Law and Policy Implementation Special Task Force deputy chairperson Koo Chin Nam said the suggestion to rope in surgeons for hudud amputation has strengthened MCA's resolve to oppose the introduction of the law.

“Amputation as a form of punishment is considered harsh in these modern times, and by making such statements, PAS has only portrayed Islam as a cruel and harsh religion, which focuses on punishment to keep its followers in line,” Koo said.

In a statement, he also likened amputation to the medieval practice of branding criminals with a hot iron and the Nazi policy of creating a social stigma against Jews.

Koo also lamented the lack of “second chances” once a limb is severed, adding that the disfigurement will only make it difficult for former criminals to earn a living and reform.

“How PAS sees amputation as a solution is a wonder to all. Will the Kelantan state government then be obliged to look after these people’s welfare through the use of tax payers’ money?” he asked.