COMMENT Congratulations to the new kid on the block. The PAS-Ikatan coalition.
However, a gentle reminder to them. A coalition can last as long as they are willing to negotiate positions - but it will admittedly be extremely difficult with an ideological lslamist party with very entrenched doctrines. Good luck to both.
But more imporgantly, what catches my eyes is the news in the Bahasa Malaysia version of Free Malaysia Today (FMT) titled: "PAS-Ikatan sepakat hudud tidak sesuai di Malaysia."
What l thought was a usual sensationalising (aka spin) of the news portal was quashed when l took pain to listen to the press conference. Only then did l realise that the title and its write-up was as close to the content of the deliberations of both the presidents of PAS and Ikatan, as it could be.
With that, PAS has evidently changed its position on hudud! PAS has always stood firm to pronounce those who have argued that hudud cannot be implemented in Malaysia, inter alia, for reasons of its non-conducive situation, not of the nation's priority and that the Muslims are not ready, (notwitstanding constitutional constraints), as Muslims who have rejected the divine law of hudud.
Among those accused was the mufti of Perlis, who wrote in his Facebook yesterday, that PAS is now using the same rationale he once used, for not agreeing with PAS’ position on hudud.
Worse still, among the PAS ulama and the younger religious leaders are those who denigrated and labelled others, who are not in conformity with them, as "liberal and secular", while some call their fellow Muslims apostates and disbelievers or "kafir". These Muslims were all asked to repent and atone for their sins.
Yes, very clearly and convincingly, this video has now come to tell the whole nation that PAS is now falling back on using the same arguments and rationale of delaying the hudud in Malaysia.
The PAS president even alluded to the need to strengthen the Syariah Court first.
PAS must now clarify its position and be willing to apologise for its overzealousness and intolerant position before.
PAS capitalised on hudud to break Pakatan
Assuming that they actually understood the actual position of the methodology of implementing syariah law, as to achieve true justice and total well-being of the community (ummat), rakyat and nation at large, PAS cannot now avoid the public perception that it has deliberately taken this position for partisan political reasons.
PAS has indeed capitalised the issue of hudud to break the fraternity of the Pakatan Rakyat after the 13th general election by accusing DAP of rejecting hudud and syariah. Even PKR was once imputed of a similar unIslamic stance.
The PAS Ulama faction has also strongly campaigned on hudud as to oust the activist-professional faction of the party in the last muktamar, accusing this faction of rejecting hudud because they call for a moritarium on its implementation.
Let it be known to all and sundry that the time has come to stop capitalising on hudud and any narrow interpretation of syariah as a political capital and ploy to gain support and mandate of the rakyat.
As Amanah, we enjoin all Muslims to strive to achieve the timeless and universal objectives and higher intents of the syariah (Maqasid al-Syariah), such as reinstating human dignity to allow all citizens to be enjoying the imperatives of syariah, i.e. justice and equality, without being discriminated and prejudiced by virtue of race, religion and conviction.
We call upon all political parties and their coalition fronts to enhance "political contestation" based upon superiority and efficacy of policy advocacy and to debunk any other dogmatic doctrines of race and religion.
We also call upon all political leaders to strive towards achieving 'A Better Malaysia for All', where the Rule of Law is again upheld and democratic institutions are revived, made functional and vibrant, to achieve the cardinal role of check-and-balance and to stamp out all abuses of power and the endemic corruption.
DR DZULKEFLY AHMAD is strategy director for Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).
