While there is nothing unusual when a DAP leader speaks against hudud’s implementation, things have become awkward for PAS when the speech was made on a PAS platform.

Days after DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang made the speech in Kota Bharu on Sunday, grumblings are being heard particularly from those who are against the local PAS division for organising the event.

The function at Padang Perdana originally did not get much attention, but is starting to gain traction on social media, especially in view of the PAS party elections early next month.

Several PAS leaders present were also slammed, including PAS Muslimat chief Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff ( photo ) who supposedly agreed with Lim by getting on to the stage.

Photos from the event had spread until Zailah had to step forward and deny that she opposed hudud.

Other Pakatan Rakyat leaders present at the ceramah include PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli, and PAS Kota Bharu chief Wan Abdul Rahim Abdullah.

Zailah, who is also the Rantau Panjang MP, expressed sadness for being "slandered" without first seeking her explanation.

Husband wants to hear Rafizi’s speech

She said she was present at the event to accompany her husband, who wanted to hear Rafizi’s speech.

“By chance, the Kota Bharu PAS information chief Hasimah Abd Rahman saw me on the field and invited me on stage.

“I declined the invitation because I wanted to meet the people and accompany my husband who wanted to hear Rafizi ( photo ) speak.

“The event’s chairperson repeatedly urged me to come on stage. The members of the audience whom I had met also repeatedly asked me go on stage.

“By chance, deputy president Mohamad Sabu was there, so I felt that it wasn’t proper to decline the organiser’s request.

“That is the true story. It is not that Kak Lah came willy-nilly just to get on stage,” she was quoted as saying in Harakay Daily yesterday.

Meanwhile, Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said Lim’s speech was "not nice" (tak manis).

“He as a guest should respect the host, the occasion, and the Kelantanese society,” he was quoted in Utusan Malaysia today.

Wan Abdul Rahim, who is also the former political secretary to the late Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat and the Kelantan state assembly speaker, declined to comment about the event as its organiser.

“I don’t want to give any comment,” he told Malaysiakini when contacted this afternoon.

Related story

Ahmad to decide on taking on Hadi tomorrow