Slammed over hudud, MCA says it’s an equal partner in BN

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 — All parties within the long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition have equal standing, MCA said today in the wake of calls that it should be silent over plans to implement controversial hudud laws in Kelantan.

In a response aimed at the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club, the ethnic Chinese party said it has always been firmly against hudud.

“While MCA and Umno may disagree over the issue, but within the BN family we operate by consensus,” said MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan in a statement today.

“MCA’s stand against PAS hudud law has always been firm and has never changed. As such, the BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) should respect the fact that each component party in BN are of equal standing, and that each party has the right to state its stand, in line with the principles of democracy,” added the Tanjung Malim MP, who is also a member of the BNBBC.

In an anonymous opinion piece published on the BNBBC portal yesterday, the ethnic Chinese party was told not to betray Umno over the controversial Islamic penal code.

The post called MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong “rude” for suggesting that the party will reconsider its membership in the ruling coalition should Umno support PAS’s bid to implement hudud in Kelantan.

Ong said today that BNBBC should have asked why MCA was against the proposed Islamic criminal justice system instead of criticising the party.

“The strongly worded-statement issued by the BNBBC on their website which condemned MCA is thus uncalled for, as MCA has always kept to our stance, which in turn is based upon our principles and conscience,” he said.

“We cannot afford to make a mistake which would see us being condemned in history for not performing our duty. We have a responsibility to the non-Muslim voters to explain the seriousness of the situation should PAS succeed in passing its hudud law,” Ong added.

PAS is looking for parliamentary approval to implement hudud in Kelantan by through two private members’ bills in Parliament some time this year.

The Islamist opposition party has 21 MPs, while Umno — BN’s Malay component party — has 88 federal seats, the largest party in the 222-member Parliament. MCA has just seven MPs.

Umno’s Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, who is the minister in charge of religious affairs said previously that Putrajaya is ready to give the green light to any state wishing to implement hudud.