KUALA LUMPUR, APRIL 29 — I have made it clear that MIC will not support the implementation of hudud law. But instead of confining our opposition to press statements, I am seeking to meet the PAS leadership over this matter.

Therefore, I have sent a request to PAS deputy president YB Mohamad Sabu to arrange for a meeting between a MIC delegation and PAS reps whereby our delegation will convey the concerns of MIC as well as the Indian community regarding hudud.

On the same note, we in MIC understand and recognise the fact that hudud is considered divine ordained law by Muslim. But the question is how it can be implemented effectively in a multiracial nation, which is recognised by the Federal Constitution to be a secular state.

YB Mohamad Sabu has replied stating he has forwarded my request to party secretary-general Dato Mustaffa Ali.

I hope this historical meeting between PAS and MIC will become a reality. When Israel, Palestinians and Hamas can meet, when US and Iran can meet, there is nothing wrong for PAS and MIC to meet, to discuss our respective stands.

My simple reasoning is that if hudud was the law of the land in place then when Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim was implicated the first time, then going by hudud, he could have been stoned to death.

But since it was civil law and there was the avenue for appeals, he was later found not guilty and released even though he had spent a long time in prison. But my point is he was alive to seek appeal.

Let us say hands are chopped for theft and later it was discovered that the person was innocent, you cannot attach the dismembered hand can you?

On the same note, we must also revisit capital punishment. This must be abolished as well as the end result is the same.

* Datuk Seri S Vell Paari is strategic director of Malaysian Indian Congress.