Reveal stand on Islamic state: Karpal to Anwar
Regretting that PAS has raised the issue now, the DAP chairman wants the PKR supremo to state his stand.
Athi Snankar, FTM
DAP chairman Karpal Singh today demanded PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim to publicly declare his party’s official stand on PAS’ Islamist agenda.
Karpal said he was clueless as to why Anwar and PKR were playing dumb in this issue which had cropped up following statements by various PAS leaders, including president Abdul Hadi Awang.
“I don’t know why Anwar and PKR are quiet about the issue. Anwar should publicly declare his and his party’s stand on this issue. I think the public expects it.
“You got to ask him. I can only speak on the behalf of DAP,” Karpal, who is defending his Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat, told a press conference here today.
Karpal regretted that PAS had raised the issue of hudud and Islamic state halfway through the election campaign despite the agenda not mentioned in Pakatan Rakyat’s common manifesto
He said he was taken aback by Hadi’s statement that DAP disagreed but did not oppose hudud and Islamic state.
“It’s contradiction in terms. When we disagree, it’s true that we oppose it. Otherwise there won’t be a disagreement. DAP’s stand on hudud is very clear.
“I’ve time and again said that hudud ought not be and should not be brought into the country,” he added.
Karpal insisted that his statements on PAS Islamic state reflected the official stand of DAP.
He said MCA was making an issue of it that the Lim father and son – Kit Siang and Guan Eng – were quiet about the issue and therefore they did not oppose hudud.
“I don’t state my personal stand. I speak on behalf of DAP. It becomes the stand of DAP,” he added.
Besides Hadi, PAS ulama council chief Harun Taib, deputy spiritual leader Dr Haron Din, Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah have all issued statements stressing that PAS would implement the hudud law and its Islamist policies if Pakatan Rakyat takes over the federal government.
Pointing out that Barisan Nasional’s had exploited the issue, he called on PAS leaders to cease bringing up the issue.
He agreed that Pakatan had not reached a consensus on the PAS Islamic agenda.
But he said all Pakatan allies have reached a common understanding on other larger issues that the electorates would consider.
He said PAS leaders should rather highlight larger issues of public interest like the price of petrol, essential commodities, human rights and other economic issues.
