KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 — Voters will punish PAS in the next general election for its insistence on pushing through its hudud plans in Kelantan, former Umno minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said today. 

In his column in The Star, Zaid also said PAS’ hudud priority over its poor governance in Kelantan will be the reason for the Islamist party’s downfall.

“They think the people will not complain too much about the way they govern the state because the fear of hudud will distract them. This is a mistake of great proportion,” he was quoted saying. 

“The people of Kelantan and of the entire country will punish Pas for this total disregard for their welfare by insisting on hudud as the criminal law of the country.

“It’s a political bluff for which they (PAS) will pay and they will become a truly marginal party come the next general election,” the former Kota Baru MP added.

Earlier, Zahid said that the Islamist party PAS is also desperate to remain relevant among voters particularly in Kelantan, following the demise of the party’s late Spiritual Leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat who wielded great influence in the Pakatan Rakyat ally.

This is what’s driving the party to implement hudud laws, Zaid said.

“Bereft of popularity, and lacking in any meaningful service to the people for many years now, PAS has to resurrect the party by introducing God’s law, hudud, even when they know many Kelantanese do not want such punishment,” Zahid said.

Zaid also urged the current Kelantan government to focus on more crucial administration matters before tackling hudud.

“God will understand if the Kelantanese leaders try to improve their administration of other matters before taking on hudud,” Zaid said. 

The Kelantan State Legislative Assembly has passed amendments to the Shariah Criminal Code II 1993 to pave way for the controversial implementation of hudud laws in the state.

All 48 assemblyman voted unanimously to pass the Bill.

The success means PAS is just one step closer to achieving its hudud ambition after it first introduced the Bill in 1993.

The second move will be to seek approval to amend the Federal Constitution to allow hudud to be incorporated into Kelantan’s Shariah laws.