The longer Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak waits to make a public stand on the hudud, the weaker he looks, PKR’s Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tsin said.

Najib met with BN component parties on March 19 and was supposed to make an announcement on hudud soon after, but has been maintaining silence.

"I don’t agree that PM’s decision to delay the announcement on BN’s stand on hudud is strategic. Instead it shows the PM’s weakness in making important decisions.

"On important issues like the Bible issue, the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah, 1Malaysia Development Bhd and now hudud, he maintains his silence," Sim said in a statement.

Sim said Malaysia does not need timid leaders like Najib, especially when the nation is split on religious and racial lines.

"Malaysians want a leader who is brave in taking unpopular stands. I urge him to stop politicking and to show leadership in this crucial time," he said.

Sim added that this also shows that MCA, Gerakan and the other component parties has no say in what their leader does.

Umno ministers at odds

MCA chief Liow Tiong Lai told reporters Najib will make an announcement on BN’s stand on hudud soon after the meeting while BN secretary-general Tengku Adnan Mansor said Najib (below) will issue a statement by today.

Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan believes Najib’s decision to keep mum is part of his strategy to sit back while Pakatan Rakyat parties fight each other on the hudud.

DAP today announced cutting ties with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang over hudud.

Even Umno ministers are at odds on the matter.

Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor said the Kelantan law which includes hudud is "political hudud" while Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz said only "stupid" people will discuss it.

De Facto Law Minister Nancy Shukri said the Kelantan law causes double jeopardy since punishments for crimes like rape and theft already exist in civil law.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek says Umno cannot be seen rejecting the hudud, while Agriculture and Agri-based Industries Minister Ismail Sabri ticked off MCA and Gerakan for their anti-hudud stands.