SG BESAR POLLS This seat’s BN hopeful Budiman Mohd Zohdi was evasive today when asked whether or not he would vote in support of the so-called Hudud Bill if he is elected to the Dewan Rakyat.

At first, Budiman deflected the question, saying it should be directed to PAS instead.

However, when pressed further on this, he replied: "Let me win first."

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang tabled the motion to debate his Private Member’s Bill on amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act two weeks ago, but deferred the debate to the next session of Parliament.

This means that whoever wins in Sungai Besar, as well as in Kuala Kangsar, on June 18 will take part in the debate and possibly vote on the bill.

The bill, also called Hudud Bill and Hadi Bill, proposes amendments to federal law to allow for the implementation of hudud in Kelantan.

Budiman also did not give a straight answer when asked whether the hudud issue was being played up to scare Chinese voters.

"If we can reject hate politics, I think there won't be a problem," he said at a press conference later in Sungai Besar.

MCA, which is campaigning for Budiman, has said that it would make its stand against hudud known to voters in the area.

The contest for Sungai Besar is a three-way battle among BN, PAS and Amanah.