Don’t blame BN for hudud in Kelantan, says Umno minister

The Kelantan assembly today unanimously passed the Shariah Criminal Code II 1993 (Amendment 2015) and a federal minister says it is not Barisan Nasional’s fault. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, March 19, 2015.Barisan Nasional is not to be blamed for PAS's insistence on implementing hudud in Kelantan, which is threatening to tear the opposition Pakatan Rakyat pact apart.

Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said it was PR's ally, PAS, which had drawn up and tabled the amendments to the Shariah Criminal Code II 1993 (Amendment 2015).

"Hudud was never brought up by BN. Hudud was brought by PAS, one of the PR component parties. Don't blame BN for this. It is illogical to blame us.

"I do not know what was agreed on or what was discussed at the PR level but this was brought by a PR component party, so why blame BN on this," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

He said PR component parties, especially DAP, should have known the implications of this as PAS has never wavered in its stand on this particular matter.

The PAS-led Kelantan assembly unanimously passed the amendments to the Islamic penal code today, which now have provisions such as death by stoning for adultery with married partners, whipping of between 40 and 80 times for consuming alcohol and amputation of limbs for theft.

Despite PAS's insistence, DAP had all along been against the Islamist party's move to implement hudud, saying that this was against the PR common policy framework and the Federal Constitution.

PAS's move had been described by DAP as a "stab in the back", and the secular Chinese majority party will convene a meeting on Monday to decide on its future with PR.

"PAS's biggest lover is the DAP and DAP's biggest lover is PAS, both had always urged the people to support the two parties and as such they should understand the implications now that PAS had managed to gain huge support from the people," said Ahmad Shabery.

The Communications and Multimedia minister also felt his party should support the bill if it comes to Parliament in the form of a private member's bill, as the Malay ruling party which is the lynchpin of the ruling BN pact needed to fulfil the teachings and spirit of Islam.

However, he said the bill should be verified by the relevant authorities first like the National Fatwa Council and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia to ensure it adhere to Islamic laws.

- TMI