PMTG PAUH A famous Islamic preacher took the opportunity to remind those in attendance at a ceramah in Permatang Pauh last night that those who reject hudud are ‘zalim’ (despotic).

Preacher Mohammad Kazim Elias told the audience that voters must first determine whether their member of parliament would give his or her vote for hudud in Parliament, or otherwise.

"If they say they do not support hudud, that means they have rejected hudud," Kazim told the crowd of some 2,000 people.

"Be warned... Because Allah has said in the Quran that those who reject hudud are zalim.

"Allah said those who are zalim will experience hellfire," he said, adding that this was the reason why they needed to make a change.

It was obvious to the crowd that Kazim's remarks were targeted at PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is contesting for the Permatang Pauh seat.

One week before the nomination day, Permatang Pauh PAS decided to reserve its support for PKR until the party apologised for objecting to hudud.

Nevertheless, the PAS division started campaigning for Wan Azizah as they believe she is supportive of the Islamic penal code.

Meanwhile, Kazim, who was at the event organised by the Home Ministry, said in his talk earlier that he would make himself available if Pakatan Rakyat called him to speak at such events.

Elaborating further on hudud, he also pointed out how the Islamic penal system needed the strength of unity, for the necessary number of votes was needed for it to be implemented.

Hudud can be implemented, with support

"If many support it, it can be implemented," he said, lauding the Kelantan state assemblypersons who had voted unanimously for the hudud bill in the state's legislative assembly.

"Before this, they (PAS) said Umno did not support hudud. Now it is Umno members who support hudud, but their own 'gang' does not support it.

"If it is brought to Parliament, it needs strength but if MPs do not support hudud even if she or he is Malay, how will hudud be implemented?" he asked.

Kazim quit PAS in 2013, saying he was deeply disappointed with the condemnation and slander hurled at him by the party leaders and members.

He said the attacks had become even more relentless after he was offered a seat on the Umno supreme council. Kazim later declined the offer.

And although Kazim remains "independent", it was noted that he was recently awarded the title of ‘Datuk’.

'Not everything is taxed under GST'

Meanwhile, Kazim pointed out how not everything in Malaysia was taxed under the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

"When I give talks in other countries which have the GST, they say everything has GST, unlike in Malaysia.

"They told me they find it strange that certain things are not taxed under the GST in Malaysia," he said.

Berating opportunists, Kazim also believes that people are easily duped because they are lazy to read newspapers.

"Every day, the newspapers state which items are taxed under the GST or otherwise.

"But when people tell us not to read newspapers and not to listen to news because they 'lie', we boycott them.

"When we don't listen to news and don't read newspapers, ultimately we are the ones being duped," he said.

Kazim also believes that after two or three years, people will realise how they could not run away from taxes.

"The taxes we pay will come back to us... This is the thing that people have failed to realise," he said.