MCA will never accept PAS’ brand of hudud, says Chua

(The Star) – PAS’ brand of hudud and making religion part of the political agenda will never be accepted by MCA, said party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

The party had raised the issue of hudud with the hope that the Chinese would look at the bigger picture – whether non-Muslims were willing to live in an environment where Islamic values were imposed on areas such as education, he added.

“We (MCA) do not want to be blamed for not alerting the Chinese on this,” Dr Chua said.

He added that many people had mistaken the objection on hudud was because its laws had provided for the amputation of hands for theft.

There was more to it, he said, pointing out that foreign investors and tourists would steer away from Malaysia upon the implementation of hudud.

“The do’s and don’ts of hudud are against human rights. Besides, hudud also marginalises women,” he said after a dinner organised by Muar’s Yi Seng Tian temple here on Tuesday.

When asked about a recent statement by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang that it was Umno which had rejected hudud while DAP merely opposed it, Dr Chua said this showed that DAP dared not defy PAS on the latter’s desire to implement hudud.

“In fact, Karpal Singh is the sole DAP leader who has openly voiced his objection to hudud,” he added.

An online portal on Tuesday also quoted Abdul Hadi as saying in Harakah that it was Umno leaders who had taken PAS-led Kelantan and Terengganu to court to prevent them from enforcing hudud.