KOTA BARU, March 19 — Non-Muslims in Kelantan have no say over PAS’ plans to roll out hudud law in the state as it does not affect them, a state government official said today

This is despite the fact that non-Muslims were “consulted” and briefed on the matter prior to the state government’s tabling of the amendments to the hudud bill.

Datuk Nasruddin Daud of PAS, in his winding up speech of the Shariah Criminal Code II 1993 amendments debate here, also said that even if there are opposition to hudud from the non-muslim community in the state, they had no right to as the Islamic penal law was a Muslim affair.

“Before we planned this amendment we consulted everyone including the non-Muslims and even if they don’t want to support they have no right to because this has nothing to do with them,” he said.

To back his argument, Nasaruddin pointed to the amended Section 2 of the Shariah Criminal Code that states clearly that the Bill will only apply to Muslims.

“This shows we took into their consideration their views when they said they fear that hudud would later affect them.

“Previously we gave them the option to chose either to be tried under Shariah or not but now its clear that it’s only for Islam,” he said.

 More to come