Hudud imbroglio – where is Anwar when he is needed now?
Ian McIntyre, The Ant Daily
Pakatan Rakyat may split three ways if the Kelantan PAS-dominated State Legislative Assembly special sitting tables and passes amendments to the Syariah Criminal Code Enactment (2) 1993 to pave the way for the implementation of hudud in the state.
The proposal to implement hudud was passed by the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly 21 years ago and again through the enactment.
Amendments have to be made and passed to enable the PAS government to table a private bill in Parliament as provided under Article 76A of the Federal Constitution
It appears even the worst floods in decades in the state now cannot wash away the drama and tension surrounding the special assembly sitting scheduled to be held on Dec 29.
One wonders if the rising flood waters will delay the sitting, but that’s only a wish as the 45 elected assemblymen are likely to go ahead with their debate on the amendments.
And outside, it is Pakatan who will be discussing their future.
All of the Kelantan assembly members are Muslims, thereby bonded by the principle that hudud must be upheld.
The enforcement of hudud becomes imminent after a delay of nearly three decades when it was first promised as an electoral incentive by an energetic ulama Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat who was campaigning in the 1980s.
Today, Nik Abdul Aziz is ailing, but his vision or rather the struggle of PAS as an Islamist party can be realised if the assembly passes the proposed amendments to enforce hudud.
Barisan Nasional (BN) though Umno has only 15 state seats so it cannot stop PAS from passing the amendments.
It is after all, God’s law and in principle, no practising Muslim can ignore the adoption and observation of the set of laws aimed at deterring crime and other sinful acts.
Be mindful that religious matters come under the purview of each state where the respective state rulers chair their religious councils. For Penang and Malacca, the King is the head.
There are federal agencies entrusted with the task of overseeing certain management aspects of Islam, but each Malay heartland state holds sway in enacting Syariah laws and enforcing them.
A fine example is Selangor.
Can the secularism-based DAP co-exist with Islam-driven PAS?
As PAS and DAP head into a collision course, it is with great regret to observe that Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is conspicuously missing.
His party, PKR, only managed to delay it by saying they want a draft of the proposal before making a decision on whether to support PAS, side with DAP or abstain.
It is believed that Anwar is the glue in Pakatan.
But of late, there are telling signs that PR is moving apart. Where then is the Permatang Pauh MP when the opposition coalition needs his leadership now?
