‘Hypocrite’ and ‘liar’. These were the accusations hurled at the MCA by its arch-rival DAP over the revelation that the cabinet did not discuss the the Kelantan government’s proposal to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 to allow hudud law implementation in Kelantan,

"MCA stripped naked as a hypocrite and liar in promising to oppose the hudud bill right up to the highest levels," DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said in a statement today.

Lim said Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz has revealed that the cabinet did not discuss the hudud bill at its meeting the week before last.

"Clearly, MCA is playing the classic tactic of saying one thing publicly to the non-Muslim community but doing the complete opposite inside the cabinet," Lim said.

Lim ( lef t) recalled MCA President Liow Tiong Lai’s ‘historic betrayal’ of his vow to fight for justice when demanding that Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob apologise to the Chinese community.

Ismail had caused a row with the community when he remarked that the Chinese were oppressing the Malays and that Chinese traders were to be blamed for not reducing prices.

When Ismail Sabri refused to apologise for his statement, Liow meekly surrendered, Lim said.

He added that similarly on hudud, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has not revealed BN’s official stand despite meeting with BN leaders on March 19, the same day amendments to the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code II (Amendment 2014) 1993 were passed by the Kelantan state assembly.

PM yet to issue statement

This led to DAP severing ties with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for his ‘dishonesty’ in wanting to table a private member’s bill in Parliament as this was not agreed upon by the Pakatan Rakyat leadership council.

Liow had claimed that Najib would issue a statement the next day and had hinted that Najib would reiterate BN’s and Umno’s stand in opposing hudud law, Lim said.

"However, to date Najib has failed to do so lea ding to speculation that Liow ( righ t) has again deceived the public," noted the Penang chief minister.

"To cover up his failure, Liow has instead tried to divert attention by blaming the DAP," he added.

"MCA’s and Liow’s inaction contrasted with DAP’s severing of all ties with Abdul Hadi for tabling the private member’s bill without first discussing this with the Pakatan leadership council as promised by Hadi," Lim reminded.

"Would Liow or MCA dare to sever all ties with Najib to object against the Umno reps in Kelantan voting in support of the PAS hudud bill at the Kelantan assembly?" Lim asked.

Lim said Najib’s failure to clarify BN’s and Umno’s stand on the hudud bill showed not only his ‘indecisiveness but also that he is irresponsibly playing political games’ over such an important fundamental constitutional matter.