PAS' hudud move will cause friction among Malaysians: Gerakan

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) -- The PAS' renewed proposal to implement Hudud (Syariah Penal Code) will not only cause further friction to the society, but will also not help the country to achieve a better future, said Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong.

He said, this was the reason why Gerakan must engage with PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and discuss all possible consequences that might arise if the hudud were to be implemented.

"I want to stress again (that) Gerakan respects Islamic religion...but we feel that Hudud, would not help the country and further split the country.

"Since I can see that DAP and PKR were just talking in the paper but no effort is being made, why don't we (Gerakan) do it directly? We want to meet Abdul Hadi, and express to him why this thing is not suitable in a multi-religious country like Malaysia," he told a press conference at Menara PGRM, here today.

It was earlier reported that PAS Kelantan, through its members of parliament had planned to move a Private Member's Bill on Hudud law at Dewan Rakyat to obtain approval for implementation of Kelantan's Syariah Criminal Code Enactment (2) 1993 by December.

However, the PAS's intention had received severe criticism, not only from non-Muslim based political party in Barisan Nasional (BN) like Gerakan and MCA, but to the extent where the strongest resistance had come from its own Pakatan counterpart DAP.

DAP's advisor Lim Kit Siang yesterday had suggested all leaders within Pakatan Rakyat to stop making unnecessary statements about the issue which would be deemed by the public as disagreements among the parties within the coalition.

Gerakan further called members of parliament (MPs) from both sides to object the proposal and to further protect the sanctity of the Federal Constitution.

Meanwhile, speaking at the same conference, the chairman of interfaith committee in Gerakan Datuk Gooi Hoe Hin said the party was against the proposal because the law was deemed as unconstitutional and it would create conflicts.

"This country is a multi racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural nation. Why further introduce laws that will polarise the Malaysian nation?

"Why change the basic structure of the country as enshrined and embedded in the Federal Constitution?" he asked further.







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