Hudud law no longer a priority, says Nasrudin

(The Star) – PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan said the party would continue to advocate the hudud law but it is no longer considered a priority.

He said the fact that the issue was not mentioned at all in president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s policy speech at the opening of the party’s 57th Muktamar did not mean that it was forgotten.

“Islam is a religion which encompasses all aspects of human life. There are still so many other issues for us to resolve and we have to prioritise them to suit the changing times.

“But in doing so, we will never deviate from the party’s policies that are based on Islam,” he said when commenting on Hadi’s policy speech which set the tone of PAS’ campaign for the 13th general election.

PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who is Kelantan Mentri Besar, had previously called on parties to agree to the implementation of the law if the alliance succeeded in forming the Federal Government.

The call drew a lot of flak from the DAP, with party stalwarts Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh fiercely defending the view that Malaysia is a secular state and that any policy changes in the Pakatan could only be made with the mutual agreement of all component parties.

Selangor PAS chief Datuk Dr Hasan Ali, meanwhile, said the fight for justice was a common ground shared by all Pakatan leaders regardless of their religious beliefs.

”We cannot abandon our Islamic principles but there is always room for discussion when there are differences in opinions,” he said.