Will DAP accept keeping Islamic laws if Pakatan wins Kelantan?
“Although DAP would not have its own member as prime minister, the directions followed by the nation’s top leader would be made by DAP if PH wins the election.”
(FMT) – PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad has asked DAP if it would agree to the continued implementation of Islamic laws in Kelantan if Pakatan Harapan (PH) takes over the state in the upcoming 14th general election (GE14).
“If PH wins Kelantan, would the Syariah Criminal Code II (1993) Enactment 1995 be maintained? Would all the promotion of Islam and programmes with Islamic elements be continued?”
He said the people of Kelantan wanted to know DAP’s stand on the matter.
“This enactment was the subject of a great dispute when PAS was with Pakatan Rakyat,” he added, referring to arguments over the law in the now-defunct opposition coalition in which both parties were components.
“DAP leaders strongly opposed the law even though (the late menteri besar) Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat had steadfastly stood by it,” Idris said yesterday.
He said this in response to DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang’s suggestion at a party programme in Kota Bharu on Thursday that Amanah vice-president and Kelantan’s veteran politician Husam Musa be appointed the menteri besar if PH takes control of the state.
Amanah, which consists of former PAS leaders such as Husam, was formed in September 2015 as a splinter of the Islamist party which is ruling Kelantan.
It is a founding member of PH, which also comprises DAP, PKR and PPBM. Idris said he viewed Lim’s announcement as a signal from DAP and its associates of their determination to wrest Kelantan, which has been held by PAS since 1990.
“This confirms that DAP is the big brother in PH,” he said.
“Although DAP would not have its own member as prime minister, the directions followed by the nation’s top leader would be made by DAP if PH wins the election.”
PAS has over the years introduced its religious interpretations in Kelantan, such as enforcing regulations to cover women’s “aurat” when approving commercial licences; separation of the sexes at concerts, theatres and supermarket counters; prohibiting posters featuring models without headscarfs; and banning women hairdressers from servicing male customers.
The PAS government recently made it compulsory for night market traders to stop operating during maghrib prayers. Idris said DAP and PH must explain if they would enforce the Islamic regulations in Kelantan.
“Would Kelantan’s fate be the same as what happened in Terengganu after Umno won back the state (from PAS) in 2004, such that the Syariah Criminal Offences (Takzir) (Terengganu) Enactment 2001 was kept inactive after that?” he asked.
