GE13: Hudud is a must, say PAS leaders

MORE PAS leaders have come out in support of the implementation of the hudud law should Pakatan Rakyat capture Putrajaya.
They expressed their support for party deputy spiritual leader Datuk Dr Haron Din who had said that hudud would be implemented in a Pakatan government even if the DAP opposed it.
Kelantan PAS deputy commissioner II Datuk Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said the willingness of the DAP to use the PAS symbol (when it faced deregistration) showed that it no longer feared the implementation of hudud.
Nik Mohd Amar, who is contesting the Pasir Puteh parliamentary seat, said it was incumbent on PAS to implement hudud if Pakatan took over Putrajaya.
“Everyone should welcome hudud of their own free will. But if one is a Muslim, it is considered a must to embrace hudud,” he said in an interview. “It is fine if some of you do not want to embrace the (hudud) law, but do remember that there is a path to heaven and another to hell. One can choose.”
The hudud issue had resurfaced in the run-up to the May 5 polls, with PAS adamant on imposing punishment for crimes according to Syariah law.
On Tuesday, Dr Haron said: “I am confident that the DAP will accept hudud because of its willingness to contest under the PAS symbol.
“Pakatan must take over the federal government. Only then can we amend the Constitution to implement hudud.”
Party Dewan Ulama chief Datuk Harun Taib said the objections of the DAP would then not matter as it would be up to the new Parliament to decide on the implementation of hudud.
However, PAS Supporters Congress chairman Hu Phang Chaw said the party leaders should not be talking about hudud at the moment.
“Now is not the time to discuss hudud. We can talk about it another time, not during the elections,” said Hu, the PAS candidate in a straight fight for the Air Hitam parliamentary seat in Johor against MCA Youth chief Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong,
“PAS and its allies in the opposition front should be talking about their desire for a new Malaysia.”
In Petaling Jaya, observers noted the serious implications of implementing hudud, referring to cases when Islamic law was imposed on non-Muslims as well in Kelantan.
In December last year, four non-Muslims two men on a plane-spotting outing and a couple in a park were issued with summonses for “indecent behaviour”.
The incidents followed a nationwide uproar when fines were imposed on salon operators who allowed their stylists to cut the hair of customers of a different gender, regardless of whether they were Muslims or not.
In Kedah, the PAS-controlled government laid down guidelines for public celebrations of the Chinese New Year, which infuriated the community.