In Pakatan ties, PAS ulama see platform for Islamic law
(MM) – PAS’s ulama wing called on the Islamist party today to leverage its membership in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) federal opposition to implement Islamic law in the states administered by the pact.
In stressing its call for the informal pact to be re-examined, the wing consisting of Islamic clerics questioned whether it has benefited Islam, even as they conceded that it has succeeded politically.
“To re-examine is not to break the link with our friends at work, but re-examine what are the profits and losses. Maybe there are material profits, but with respect to Islam, we must examine how much is Islam implemented in the states that we rule,” wing chief Datuk Harun Taib told the 500-strong crowd at their wing annual muktamar (conference).
“The tahaluf siyasi strategy used by PAS has bore fruit in reducing the power and domination of Barisan Nasional … PAS must fill up the victory by suggesting various Islamic policies in state administration and governance,” said wing deputy chief Datuk Ahmad Yakob in his keynote speech later.
The term tahaluf siyasi means “political consensus”, and is used to describe PAS’s working arrangement with its allies in PR.
On Monday, party information chief Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had said that PAS will debate on pressing the PR-led state governments to impose the controversial hudud laws in their respective states at the Islamist party’s muktamar tomorrow.
Amid renewed debate on the possibility of implementation of the Islamic criminal law in Kelantan, Tuan Ibrahim said hudud was part of the four motions on Islamic laws that will come up for debate in the muktamar.
The states currently ruled by PR — composed of PAS, PKR and secular DAP — are Kelantan, Penang and Selangor.
The issue of hudud is expected to take centre stage in today’s ulama wing’s muktamar, themed “Ulama Haraki Menangani Fasad, Mengisi Kemenangan” (Progressive clerics handling damage and fulfilling victory), and the annual party muktamar that starts tomorrow.
In the keynote speech today, Ahmad congratulated Brunei for enforcing hudud laws and expressed the wings’ support for the sultanate amid international criticism.
Last month, Brunei began enforcement of Islamic laws within its criminal code, which will take effect starting next year called the Syariah Penal Code, prompting condemnation from global human rights advocates.
In a national-level Amal Ma’ruf Nahi Mungkar convention in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan last month, Ahmad had also said opponents of the Islamic penal code are risking their faith and insulting the “intelligence of Allah”.
In Islamic jurisprudence, hudud cover crimes such as theft, illicit sexual relations, making unproven accusations of illicit sex, causing physical hurt, drinking intoxicants, apostasy, and acts contrary to Islamic belief.
The code implemented by Brunei specifies punishments as prescribed by Islamic holy texts, including death by stoning for adultery.
However, prosecutors must fulfil a high burden of proof, including the testimony of at least four credible witnesses, in order to carry out the punishment.
Additionally, Muslims who insult, mock, or deny the teachings al-Quran or hadith (traditions) of Prophet Muhammad are liable to up to 30 years of jail and 40 strokes of the cane.
Other offences such as theft can be punishable by amputation of the right hand, if the property stolen amounts to or exceeds the nisab (required minimum value) and two credible witnesses besides the victim are produced.
Syariah law is generally confined to Muslims, but can extend to non-Muslims if they are involved in aiding or abetting an offence committed by a Muslim.
The issue of implementing hudud law in Malaysia has kept opposition parties in Pakatan Rakyat at loggerheads, especially between the Islamist PAS and secular DAP.
