In hudud spat, Kit Siang offers BN chiefs ‘free tuition’ on Federal Constitution
(Malay Mail Online) – DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang today offered to teach the presidents of MCA and Gerakan about the Federal Constitution, as he maintained the opposition party’s position that Kelantan’s hudud plans are unconstitutional.
The veteran federal lawmaker said MCA President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and his Gerakan counterpart Datuk Mah Siew Keong appear not to understand how the constitution works in their criticism of DAP’s continued partnership with PAS despite their disagreements over hudud implementation.
Lim argued that even if the Kelantan state assembly is planning another round of amendments to push for hudud in the state, it has been unable to implement the Syariah Criminal Code since 1993 on the premise that it goes against the Federal Constitution.
“If the MCA and Gerakan Ministers and leaders still cannot understand this simple point, I am prepared to offer them free tuition courses in their party headquarters,” the Gelang Patah MP said in a statement.
The DAP veteran also criticised Liow and Mah for turning a blind eye on Barisan Nasional lynchpin Umno’s support for PAS’ hudud bid.
He claimed that Kelantan Umno’s support for hudud suggests that BN was conspiring to leverage on the hudud controversy to break the opposition Pakatan Rakyat.
Lim said both BN leaders should resign from their positions in Cabinet if Kelantan Umno votes to support hudud implementation in Kelantan when the state assembly convenes next month.
PAS will table amendments to the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment II 1993 in the state legislative assembly on March 18.
It is also expected to table two private members’ bills in Parliament next month, which are aimed at removing constitutional obstacles currently preventing it from enforcing the hudud law that it enacted in Kelantan back in 1993.
DAP has warned of an imminent break-up of the Pakatan Rakyat alliance when Kelantan previously announced plans to table amendments to hudud law in the state assembly last December 29, until major floods in the east coast state forced PAS to postpone its plans.
