Hadi mum on order to get Umno support for hudud bill

(The Star) – PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang refused to confirm if he had issued a directive for party divisions nationwide to seek the support of Umno MPs when the bill on hudud is debated in Parliament.

He said PAS would follow the parliamentary process on his motion on a Private Members Bill to amend section 2 of the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, which was included as the last item in Tuesday’s order paper.

Hadi confirmed that a request to bring it forward for debate had been made to the Speaker.

“Kita tunggu dulu (We will wait first). It is compulsory for all Muslims to support (hudud),” he told reporters when asked if the party would seek the backing of Umno MPs in Parliament.

It was reported that PAS divisions nationwide had approached Muslim MPs from Barisan Nasional to convince them to support the bill.

Earlier Wednesday, several representatives from Titiwangsa PAS met their member of parliament, Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani from Barisan Nasional, at the Parliament lobby to submit a memorandum seeking his support for the bill.

Hadi said there was no problem with DAP’s opposition to the bill, adding that his Pakatan Rakyat counterparts had also done things without consulting PAS.

“We agree to listen to all views, even from those who oppose,” he added.

Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has yet to decide whether to allow the bill to go through.