KUALA LUMPUR: PAS, in its push to have hudud laws introduced if the opposition coalition takes power, has upped the ante on its partners by challenging the DAP to give its reasons for its objections.The call for DAP to explain why it objected to hudud laws was made by its spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.
“If they (DAP) refuse to accept the laws, they must state their reasons why they cannot accept it.
“This message is for all coalition members to state strong arguments why they cannot accept hudud laws,” Nik Aziz told reporters at his office here yesterday.
Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan Mentri Besar, was asked to comment on the recent statement by party vice-president Datuk Husam Musa during a debate with deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin recently.
Husam said that Pakatan Rakyat would have implemented hudud laws had they been successful in taking over the Federal Govern- ment on Sept 16.
However, Khairy disagreed with the hudud implementation suggestion and said that the present status quo should stay.
Nik Aziz said there would not be any problem for PAS to implement hudud laws if Pakatan became the Government because the only obstacle was the lack of understanding of the laws by those within the coalition.
He said he could not see why people were reluctant to accept the punishment of 100 lashings for illicit sex, amputation of limbs for theft or death for murder when the current punishment for murder and drug trafficking was also death by hanging.
“I cannot see why they cannot accept hudud laws which are no different from the colonial laws of the West,” he said.
In a separate press conference, Husam said non-Muslim voters in Kuala Terengganu should not be unduly worried over his statements on hudud laws.
Speaking to reporters at the PAS headquarters here yesterday, Husam said the Barisan Nasional was using scare tactics to frighten voters.
The Star dated 23/12/2008
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