PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's call not to support candidates who are against hudud law in the Permatang Pauh by-election is a non-issue for PKR deputy president.

Instead, he expressed confidence that the conflict can be resolved amicably with "family spirit".

"It's okay. In the end, I think we want victory in order to bring change. In this election, the reason we are taking part is to convince voters to bring change.

"This is the success of Pakatan Rakyat, whereby we have our differences, but we can resolve it through cooperation ( muafakat ).

"So I hope that all parties can hold on to this Pakatan Rakyat principle to ensure future victory," he said.

He was speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the Asean People's Forum (APF) in Kuala Lumpur today, where he was asked to comment on Abdul Hadi's ( right ) statement.

The latter was quoted in Sinar Online agreeing with a Permatang Pauh PAS official that it is forbidden in Islam ( haram ) and sinful to vote for candidates who are against hudud’s implementation.

The election will be held on May 6, with candidates from PKR and Umno in the running.

PKR had previously stated that it will not support Hadi's private member's bill meant to pave way for the implementation of hudud law in Kelantan.

Conspiracy of silence

Meanwhile in his speech at the forum earlier, Azmin joined in opposing Asean’s principle of non-interference in the affairs of other member states, calling it a “conspiracy of silence” on human rights violations.

“The mantra is that in the matters of domestic affairs of a sovereign state, members must remain neutral.

“And on this altar of neutrality we watch with folded arms the slaughter of innocent women and children.

“On this platform of non-interference, we turn a blind eye to the massacre of ethnic minorities or abandon them as stateless people,” he said.

He added that Asean member states should become a group bound together through a commitment to universal values instead of being a superficially cohesive union.

However, he noted that some Asean leaders have taken a dim view to democracy and human rights, and half the member states have governments that are not even elected through democratic processes.

“Indeed because of all these concurrent and mutual acts of human rights violation, we can understand why no one member state is prepared to cast the first stone,” he said.