Karpal calls on PAS chief to revoke hudud plan
(The Star) – DAP chairman Karpal Singh wants PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to state “once and for all” an irrevocable stand against the setting up of an Islamic state.
“There should be a finality to the issue. He should do this for Pakatan’s sake,” he said.
Karpal Singh said that DAP had set a precondition that PAS would not implement the hudud law before working with them in the 1999 and 2008 general elections.
“Together with other DAP leaders, I have publicly given reasons for DAP’s firm stand against the implementation of hudud laws by PAS.
“Now the MCA has dared the DAP to state its stand on hudud laws,” he said yesterday.
Karpal Singh was commenting on a report yesterday when Terengganu MCA chairman Toh Chin Yaw called on DAP to clarify its stand on whether it opposed PAS’ stand to implement hudud laws if it came to power.
Toh had added that DAP deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw’s presence during the announcement of the PAS candidate for the Kuala Terengganu by-election showed DAP’s compromise over its stand.
Karpal Singh said that DAP only decided to assist PAS in the coming by-election after PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa retracted his statement that hudud laws would be introduced if Pakatan had formed the federal government last Sept 16.
“The statement was irresponsible and did not have the support of DAP or PKR.
“If there was no retraction, DAP would have to boycott the campaign. We are very clear on our stand.
“The attendance of Dr Tan during the candidate’s announcement cannot be interpreted as DAP’s compromise over its stand against the hudud laws,” he said.
Karpal Singh said his party’s stand on hudud laws was clear even before PAS joined Pakatan Rakyat.
He reiterated the DAP’s stand against any plan by PAS to implement hudud laws and has called on PAS’ president to openly state that they will not do so.
Hudud laws, he said, were opposed even by the Muslims and were unconstitutional.
Besides the constitution, he said a judicial pronouncement by the Supreme Court through a five-member bench in 1988 had stated that Malaysia is a secular state and not an Islamic state.
