While Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak remains evasive on the hudud issue, his now number one critic, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has once again made it clear that he opposes the Islamic criminal law.

In a recent blog post, he reiterates that PAS’ hudud was not Islamic as it is “unfair”, which goes against what is stated in the Quran; for there to be justice when meting out punishment.

“It is unfair that in a society, the Muslims are subjected to hands being chopped off, being stoned to death and getting beheaded while the non-Muslims are only subject to lighter punishments,” he said.

Mahathir ( left ) added that PAS’ hudud was un-Islamic because the intention of PAS, as well as Kelantan Umno, in introducing hudud in Kelantan was nothing but a political one.

He cited PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s message made in 2003 where the PAS leader had said that it was important for there to be cooperation to lessen Barisan Nasional’s “hegemony” in Parliament.

“A Muslim's intention in performing ibadah (worship) is important. Because PAS’ hudud has the intention to win the elections, it is no longer Islamic,” he said.

On Hadi, who said that he did not know much about Islamic laws and therefore was not fit to talk about it, Mahathir said he, too, can say that Hadi ( right ) does not know about administration and was therefore not fit to administer a state.

“I am not that ignorant in religious matters. (And) you can simply review the results of my administration,” he said.

“Remember, those who are fluent in Arabic and led by those who are knowledgeable in religious studies; they are the ones fighting and killing those who are of the same religion as them,” he added.

He also commented on other horrors done in the name of Islam, and pointed out that some may say that it is okay to do so as “they are only administering Allah’s laws”.

“But is it, really, that laws that are created without taking into account justice, as well as having a political intention, are Allah’s laws?” he queried.

This is not the first time that Mahathir has voiced out his objection against PAS’ hudud. Also, the Kelantan state government did not pursue with its plans back in 1993 when Mahathir was prime minister as he did not give them the green light.

Najib, on the other hand, has not stated his objection nor support for hudud, although BN component parties such as MCA and Gerakan have stated their objections against the Islamic criminal law.

Some believe that Najib was capitalising on this as cracks in the opposition continue to widen due to the issue.