KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 — DAP’s Lim Kit Siang told political rival Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai today to forego ministerial posts allotted to MCA unless Datuk Seri Najib Razak gives the assurance that his government will not endorse hudud laws.

The veteran lawmaker added that the prime minister should also retract Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s “929” declaration in 2001 that Malaysia is an Islamic state.

“Or is Liow and the present MCA leadership more interested in getting back the perks of office as ministers and deputy ministers even though the BN prime minister and Cabinet had undergone another sea-change in policy from the founding Constitutional principle of a secular Malaysia of no hudud laws to one which does not reject hudud laws?” he asked in a statement.

Lim also pointed to Najib’s recent remark that said Barisan Nasional government had never rejected hudud, which he said was against the stance of the first three prime ministers and all the previous MCA presidents before Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik that Malaysia is a secular state.

Najib’s remarks came after PAS expressed their wish for the government to table bills to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, allowing hudud laws to be implemented.

Lim, who is also the Gelang Patah MP also accused MCA deputy secretary-general Datuk Wee Jeck Seng of lying about DAP leaders agreeing to the implementation of hudud in Kelantan.

“DAP('s) stand on hudud had always been constant and consistent, that it is unconstitutional and not suitable for a plural nation like Malaysia.

“DAP leaders have never shied away anywhere from admitting DAP’s differences with PAS on the questions of Islamic state and hudud…” Lim said.