PETALING JAYA, April 29 ― Malaysia does not have the right institutions in place to implement hudud, the controversial Islamic penal code, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim insisted today.

Anwar called on Islamist party PAS, which has been pushing to implement hudud laws in Kelantan, to engage in meaningful discourse on the matter before presenting its plans in parliament

“I cannot envisage a situation where you try to apply any facet of what we consider important pieces of legislation when institutions are not in place,” Anwar told reporters.

“We cannot talk about hudud when the judiciary and the judges are still not independent. I can give you tens of examples, even including the Shariah courts. Now, who are the ones who will implement this hudud?”

He invited Pakatan Rakyat (PR) component party PAS to engage its allies in “reasoned discourse” before it presents two private member bills in Parliament to allow hudud to be imposed in Kelantan.

“When it becomes rancorous like this, or the exchange is controversial, it is never useful to push through,” Anwar said.

“I think PAS can be persuaded to allow for a healthy discourse, notwithstanding their strong views on this issue.”

Anwar also reminded Muslims that hudud is just one small component in the wider Islamic moral code which also includes good governance and equality.

The Permatang Pauh MP also said that consensus between Muslims and non-Muslims is needed before hudud can be implemented in Malaysia.

PR leaders are expected to meet today to give PAS the opportunity to explain its renewed plans to implement hudud law in Kelantan in an effort to contain the fallout from a very public spat between the Islamist party and DAP.

The Malay Mail Online understands that the PR leaders attending the closed-door meeting today include PAS’ Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah and Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and DAP’s Liew Chin Tong and Teresa Kok.

Tensions resurfaced between PAS and DAP in recent weeks after MPs from the Islamist party disclosed their intent to push two private members’ bills in Parliament to impose the controversial Islamic penal law in Kelantan.

Conceding they were unlikely to receive any support from PR allies, PAS leaders turned to political foe, Umno for support.

The proposed hudud law will cover crimes such as theft, robbery, illicit sex, making unproven accusations of adultery, murder, causing physical hurt, drinking intoxicants, and apostasy.