MAY 13 — There has been intense political dispute since PAS announced its intention to table a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament to seek the implementation of hudud in Kelantan. Non-Muslim communities showed their resistance and discontentment under the shadow of anxiety and low mood.

In this political paradox when the people were in panic, Ikatan Muslim in Malaysia (Isma) president Abdullah Zaik Abdullah Rahman’s inflammatory remarks calling non-Muslims “trespassers” and opining that hudud should apply to all have further planted the sources of chaos affecting social stability, pushing the country towards fear, uncertainty and danger. Although PAS announced yesterday its decision to deter the bill, it is just a stalling measure and there is no guarantee that the issue will not be raised again in the future.

Ignoring national and social reality, PAS brought up the hudud implementation issue and caused various civil society groups and non-governmental organisations to stand together against it. However, leaders of the federal government, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin have shown an ambiguous attitude towards the issue. In particular, Najib said that the federal government “has never rejected hudud” and “Umno is ready to listen to PAS’ proposal regarding the implementation of hudud”, as well as the formation of the joint Kelantan PAS-Federal Government technical committee have shown that Umno was “serious” in promoting the implementation of hudud. These unprecedented actions of the federal government showed that Umno is ready to embrace PAS for political interests, caring no more for the cornerstone of national survival.

From the administration of Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to Tun Abdullah Badawi, the government had made a clear cut with hudud and particularly, although Dr Mahathir had once claimed Malaysia an Islamic country, his main purpose was to draw a clear line with PAS, instead of to implement hudud. Thanks to their resistance to the implementation of hudud, the country has been able to retain its pluralistic and democratic system.

We hope that Najib can prioritise the country’s situation and prospect when dealing with the issue and not to go astray, leaving the moderate and democratic system built by our ancestors with great effort to collapse. Since Najib is a Prime Minister for all, he should abandon narrow-minded measures and truly implement people-oriented policies.

PAS’ intention to implement hudud is contrary to the founding contract of Malaysia and is definitely not feasible in this multiracial and multi-religious country. We believe that Umno leaders and Members of Parliament understand the constraints of reality. However, they still insist on flirting with PAS probably because they are playing a political game attempting to win the support of conservative Muslims. However, if they go too far, it could destroy the country’s constitutional system, undermine the people’s unity and bring a tragedy.

Meanwhile, the issue has also exposed the weakness of Chinese politicians having courage to fight internally, but not externally. All Chinese groups and non-political organisations are aware of the importance of saying no to the implementation of hudud but Chinese-based political parties, the MCA and DAP, have not only failed to put aside their feuds and try to work together for a plan to oppose the implementation of hudud, they have also failed to criticise and denounce PAS or Umno. Instead, their leaders and members have just been giving tit for tat through the media and making pointless sarcastic remarks and attacks against each other, which will only push the Chinese community towards a greater crisis. — Sin Chew Daily

*This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.