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(1) Hudud: Nik Aziz prays for Parliamentary majority, 1 October 2011
by Susan Loone
Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat said he prays for divine intervention for a two-thirds majority in Parliament so that the hudud law can be implemented in the country.
The PAS spiritual advisor today said hudud was as necessary and compulsory as other important activities in Islam, like praying, fasting or performing the haj.
He said that following the recent meeting between Pakatan Rakyat leaders in Selangor, the DAP, that fiercely opposed the law, had accepted Kelantan's proposal to enact it within the state.
The Pakatan ally has also accepted the fact that the Syariah criminal law had been endorsed by all the Kelantan state legislature assemblypersons, including the two Umno reps, he added.
"The law is to be implemented in the Syariah Court, for Muslims. It is not in the civil court," he told reporters at a press conference at the sidelines of the party's 60th anniversary in Kepala Batas, Penang.
"In Kelantan, have we killed a non-Muslim? No. Have we pulled one hair from their bodies? No.
"It is strange that in Malaysia, we can accept the death penalty but not hudud law which does not punish people with capital punishment," he said.
When told that Umno has accused DAP of preventing PAS from implementing the hudud in the country, Nik Aziz said the question should be directed to DAP.
"If Umno wants to blame the DAP for it, that is it's business," he quipped.
'Kelantan Chinese accept hudud'
Nik Aziz also noted that in Kelantan, the Chinese community accepts hudud as it would benefit them.
For example, in cases of a robbery, the Chinese who are wealthier would be happy if the culprit could be dealt with under the hudud law, he said.
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, who accompanied Nik Aziz and secretary general Mustafa Ali at the press conference, said that it has been understood that PAS goes about the implementation of law in a proper manner.
Mustafa later added that the party would only be able to enforce the law if it has a two-thirds endorsement in the state assembly.
"In Kedah, we will not be able to maintain it because we do not have a two-thirds majority," he added.
Nik Aziz, who looked frail but still in high spirits, created havoc recently when he said Kelantan would go ahead to enforce the thorny Islamic law.
He was quoted as saying he was prepared for the DAP to leave Pakatan if it does agree with PAS views on the matter.
Pakatan put a lid on the issue recently by agreeing to accept the opposing views of DAP and PAS, saying that the coalition would respect the federal constitution and that the issue is not being mentioned in the coalition's common policy framework.
On PAS working together with Umno, whether in the current situation or in future, Nik Aziz said the party had done so with the latter in the past, for example, in the Barisan Sunnah.
However, when Umno became stronger in the Muslim front, they started to neglect PAS to the extent of "kicking it out".
"And now they want to invite us to join them again? I know you (Umno), who you are!" said Nik Aziz, in English, drawing laughter from the audience.
(2) No hudud for non-Muslims, assures Hadi, 1 October 2011
by Susan Loone
At its 60th anniversary in Kepala Batas today, PAS insisted that it would not force the hudud law on non Muslims, blaming Umno for stirring up the controversy.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the issue had been polemicised by Umno and its 'paid media'. He said the syariah law should be supported by Muslims as society has deteriorated, and the crime rate had risen.
''However, when raising the issue of syariah law, only the part on hudud is mentioned and highlighted,'' he told a 3,000 strong crowd at the Dewan Millennium today.
''The part on hudud is purposely highlighted to instill fear in non-Muslims and to make Muslims look stupid,'' he added.
The Marang assemblyperson gave the assurance that the Islamic justice system was fair.
Abdul Hadi (above) added that a true syariah court judge was more focused on 'freeing' an accused, striving to do so according to Islamic principles.
This law, he said, was Allah's law and was not created by the Prophet or any other individual.
Muslim, non-Muslim barrier down
''But whenever they mention hudud, they said it is PAS' hudud...they hide the true nature of hudud,'' he lamented.
Abdul Hadi also said he was pleased that with the party's continued relationship with non-Muslims, it has managed to breakdown the barrier between the two sides.
He added that the party had managed to do it so well that there are non-Muslims who asked to join PAS.
Non-Muslim political parties and NGOs were also willing to work with the party ,he said.
''Unfortunately, there are certain quarters who question why PAS is working with non-Muslims. This was taught to us by Islam
''That is why we join forces with Bersih 2.0 although its president Ambiga Sreenevasan, is a non-Muslim,'' he said.
PAS accepts everyone, he stressed, even those 'dropped' by Umno.
This is the party's openness that led it to join hands with other opposition parties to form the Pakatan Rakyat, he added.
''We have accepted our differences. The paid media by BN still wants to divide us until today but it seems like they have failed.
Star studded event
The two-day congress was attended by PAS bigwigs and representatives from Pakatan - Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong and Komtar assemblyperson Ng Wei Aik.
The programme included a symbolic launch to mark the party's 60th anniversary, a token of appreciation to PAS founder Dr Burhanuddin Helmy's wife, and two intensely dramatic and passionate performances - a musical by a group of school children and poem recital by national laureate A Samad Said.
Congress papers on PAS history and future political development were presented by PAS vice-president Husam Musa (right) and Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar respectively
The crowd which eventually grew to about 5,000, sat and intently listened to both speakers among others.
Meanwhile, Mohammed, better known as Mat Sabu, said PAS will continue with its celebration in other states so that the event would be more meaningful to its members.
He said the party cut short its celebration from three days to two, in view of the work load in preparation demanded by the coming general election which may be called in November.
He said PAS zoomed in on Kepala Batas to play host to its celebration because its MP, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's parents were founders of PAS in Penang decades ago.
"We hope with this event, Penang will return to its glorious days especially for the Malays and Muslims, and this will strengthen Pakatan," he added.
(3) Wee: Dr M's Islamic state left charter untouched, 1 October 2011
by Nigel Aw
MCA Youth Chief Wee Ka Siong today clarified that the party did not raise any objection to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Islamic state declaration in 2001 as that did not embrace constitutional amendments.
This, he said, was in contrast to PAS' agenda of implementing hudud law which would ultimately require amendments to the Federal Constitution.
"There is a significant difference between the announcement made by Mahathir on Sept 29 ten years ago during the annual Gerakan annual assembly.
"That announcement did not include amendment of the federal constitution," Wee (right) told reporters at the end of the 47th MCA Youth annual general assembly.
He added that the constitution is a "bible" for a multi-ethnic Malaysia and will not budge in its opposition to amending it for hudud law.
Wee also took arch rival DAP to task for its apparent muted stance where its coalition partner PAS' hudud law ambitions are concerned.
Extensive debate gauntlet thrown
He said MCA Youth was willing to debate the issue with the DAP from the national to divisional levels.
"We must discuss the contentious issue whether hudud law should be implemented...When it is necessary, they (Kelantan government) say this is a Pakatan Rakyat government but when there is conflict, they say it is a PAS government, so which is which?"
Wee said to date , party vice-president Gan Ping Sieu had challenged DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng to a debate on the matter.
Meanwhile, Wee also condemned PAS over the issuance of a show-cause letter against SK Kai Chih for hosting a lantern festival in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan.
"People just want to gaze at the moon and stars, sing and witness some performers dressed up as Chang Er (moon goddess)," he said.
"If Chang Er was around, I'm sure she will head to the streets to protest (the letter)."
The Pasir Puteh Land Office was reported to have written the letter to the school for failing to obtain an entertainment licence for hosting the event on Sept 15.
According to Wee, the land office had claimed that the school contravened Section 6 (2) of the Entertainment and Places of Entertainment Enactment 1998, which carries a maximum fine of RM20,000 or a five-year jail term, or both.
"Such licences are normally for nightclubs like karaoke lounges and pubs. I don't understand why a mooncake festival would require such licences.
"Does this means that all parties are like night clubs?" he asked.
Earlier in his closing address, Wee announced that MCA Youth has formed a legal team to challenge the land office letter, stressing that the lantern festival was part of Chinese culture.
(4) Hudud: Once implemented, all M'sians affected, 3 October 2011
'Don't listen to PAS attempts to manipulate the issue by saying that hudud laws will not be forced on non-Muslims.'
'I did not boycott PAS celebration'
Black Mamba: Karpal Singh and DAP's stand on hudud has been steadfast all along, it is PAS that is reverting from what it said before and what it's saying now.
PAS needs to understand that in today's global economy, where financial and human capital are so fluid, the implementation of hudud law will set Malaysia backward to the days of early civilisation where capital punishment was a way of life.
Learn from Turkey on how an Islamic nation can blend with the West without compromising its Islamic values and still maintain itself as a liberal nation.
Aku Melayu: Karpal, are you definitely sure that you told the DAP headquarters about your inability to attend the function?
Penang CM Lim Guan Eng must have been lying when he said to reporters that he did not know that Karpal would not be attending the PAS 60th anniversary do.
Chong Abdullah: Hudud has been part of the syariah law since 1400 years ago and it does not need "all Muslims" to agree with it. This rule is only applicable to Muslims and not others.
Of course, that is in the nature of humans, if you ask all Muslims in Malaysia, they don't all agree with the death penalty for drug trafficking. But still Malaysia implements it.
Hudud is not an option, it is an obligation to abide by. Once it is a rule, we have to abide by it. For Muslims to say this rule is outdated or not practical is kufr (infidelity).
AntiRacial: Don't listen to PAS' statements and their attempts to manipulate the issue by saying that hudud laws will not be forced on non-Muslims. This is just to make non-Muslims agree to the hudud implementation.
BN-Umno is instigating the hudud issue, as shown by their statements about how they welcome and are willing to further discuss the matter with PAS.
They have two intentions: first, to create friction between PAS and DAP; second to tell PAS that BN is willing to consider hudud if PAS is willing to pull out from Pakatan and join BN.
Implementing hudud in the country may be the beginning of the destruction of Malaysia's multiracial society.
Mohd: The problem with DAP and PAS is that both are political parties with strong principles. However, I do believe an amicable solution can be achieved.
PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat and DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh have provided exemplary leadership. Can both of them now come out with something that can appeased both sides of the argument?
Karpal's absence at PAS do raises eyebrows
Indon Planter: Pakatan Rakyat leaders are allowed to have differences but they should not let these to become the stumbling block to their main objective - to oust BN.
Talk about hudud when you are in power. To argue over it now is like putting the cart before the horse, and to me that is silly.
Clean & Clear: Karpal Singh alone is not DAP, and if he was not present at the PAS function - it's no big deal.
Fair Play: Politics is all about creating impact. The greater, the better. In a war of words, the one who shouts loudest usually wins because he drowns out the others.
Many politicians, at least in the Malaysian context, have long passed their 'use-by date'. But unlike old soldiers who never die but fade away, they are neither.
Keturunan Malaysia: I wish to think many Malaysians wouldn't want Karpal to retire just yet. Perhaps his body and limbs are catching up with age, but his mind is amazingly fresh, alert, wise and young.
Don't you think a lot of much younger leaders are unable to even hold a candle to him?
Faz: In the absence of good news, anything else will do. We seem to be obsessed with reading too much into every nooks and corners of the debate. Only through discussions and consultations will acceptable decisions be accommodated.
We expect DAP, PKR and PAS to be together to fight Umno-BN for our future as Malaysians.
Anonymous Liberal: PAS has to understand that Malaysia is a multi-racial, multi-religious country. All three races have an equal say in the affairs of this country.
We have enough laws to keep crime in check, but the only way to make the country safe is to kick BN out and install a regime that will clean up this country.
If Anwar Ibrahim, Abdul Hadi Awang and the other Pakatan leaders are not focussed on the task ahead, then they forget about forming the next government.
We'd rather live with the known devil than the unknown.
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