Wednesday September 19, 2012

Chua: Hudud no mere threat

By ISABELLE LAI, DERRICK VINESH and P. ARUNA
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Non-Muslims must face the political reality that hudud may very well be successfully implemented should the Opposition come to power, said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

He said DAP had convinced the Chinese community that PAS would never have two-thirds majority in Parliament to be able to push hudud through.

“Whether they can implement hudud if they come into power, (PAS deputy president) Mohamad Sabu has disclosed that those who don't like hudud can object through their MPs.

“So, PAS will amend the (Federal) Constitution and say the amendment is according to the Quran,” he said, adding that Barisan Nasional Muslim MPs would have to support it then.

Dr Chua said this was obvious when PAS took over Terengganu in 1999 and amended the state constitution, which was supported by Umno state assemblymen.

“So, this is something that is possible, especially since (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) has openly said PKR and PAS support hudud, PAS-version,” he told reporters at Wisma MCA yesterday.

This version, added Dr Chua, emphasised “punishment and prohibition” when Islam was also about education, enlightenment and forgiveness.

He said judging from the 222 MPs, of whom most were Muslims, PAS could easily obtain the two-thirds majority to implement its version of hudud.

“So, this is a political reality that all non-Muslims must face. This is not a threat. It is something that all of us must think about carefully,” he stressed.

Dr Chua warned that PAS' hudud would have a negative impact on Malaysia's social, political, educational and cultural landscape, pointing out that Pahang PAS had vowed to close down Genting, which attracted 20 million tourists and provided 18,000 jobs.

“Some Opposition leaders have been telling the Chinese that hudud is good because it will reduce crime and fight corruption. This is another lie because of the 11 nations with hudud, eight are recognised in the world as the most corrupt and unsafe,” he said, adding that they included Iran, Iraq, Sudan and Somalia.

In BUTTERWORTH, MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the people were still waiting for DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng to clarify his party's stand on hudud.

“MCA has made its stand very clear. If Umno were to implement hudud, MCA will leave Barisan Nasional. So, tell me who is brave enough to make such a stand? Certainly, the MCA,” she said before presenting RM110,000 in grants to 14 non-governmental bodies and three schools yesterday.

MCA vice-president Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai said senior leaders in DAP should state their stand once and for all, adding that voters should rethink their support for the party in view of the continued silence.

News

Wednesday September 19, 2012

Chua: Hudud no mere threat

By ISABELLE LAI, DERRICK VINESH and P. ARUNA newsdesk@thestar.com.my

By ISABELLE LAI, DERRICK VINESH and P. ARUNA
newsdesk@thestar.com.my