MCA revives 'HUDUD WARS' against PAS

Following the announcement that Brunei has begun implementing strict Syariah laws, PAS has reiterated the party’s hardline stance to likewise enforce PAS hudud enactments

New Straits Times (28 Oct 2013) in a front page article had reported that PAS Menteri Besar Dato’ Ahmad Yakob stressed that “we will not give up … Kelantan has made efforts to enforce hudud for a long time but was unsuccessful because of various obstacles. Some critics have alleged that the state government’s action is a political ploy when it is they who are politicizing the issue.”

I wish to emphasise that nobody has made any attempts to politicise the issue. State or local council policies which have drawn criticisms from non-Muslims and which have attracted wide media coverage have led to PAS slowing down on their measures. However, there are no guarantees if PAS hardline policies will be repealed or revoked. Mere window dressing on slowing down is insufficient.

'Zon tutup aurat'

In PAS’ bid to test the reaction of residents, PAS should be soundly rebuked. There are no guarantees that PAS ultra-conservative measures and policies will not affect non-Muslims e.g. designating the State Secretariat building as a “Zon Tutup Aurat”, or forcing hair salons to remove posters featuring female models who did not cover their hair and forcing other businesses to comply with PAS restrictive regulations in order for their licences to be renewed.

Unfortunately, PAS does not pin responsibility on the Kelantan state government on imposing PAS hudud enactments but instead, blames negative media coverage for not fully carrying out its hudud enactments. PAS even assumes that only Muslims will be subjected to its party’s policies, and that non-Muslims will not be impacted. But previous encounters with local authorities have proven simply otherwise.

PAS must recognize the fact that Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, religious and cultural country. To compel PAS version of ultra conservative religious laws on all segments of society cannot be accepted. There is no u-turn on PAS’ religious laws. Its implementation will inevitably lead to erosion of non-Muslim rights.

Tan Ken Ten
MCA Kelantan Secretary

Full article: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/