Pic of the members of G25 (from Malaysiakini)

The DAP today endorsed the stand by a group of prominent Muslims known as the G25 to uphold the Federal Constitution against PAS’s hudud bid.

DAP Parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang in a statement today said, “I am not a Muslim but I am fortified by the G25 group’s citation of Islamic scholars for this position, especially Sheikh Yusuf Al Qaradawi, who is chairperson of the World Union of Muslim Scholars, who said the application of Syariah must be governed by Ijtihad or creative thought, to determine how it would be enforced today as it would not be helpful to take rulings from ancient texts and apply them in totality to modern societies.”

G25, which is a group of prominent Malay former civil servants said today that the implementation of hudud law would mean the abandonment of the path of moderation, a stance taken by the country since Independence and the formation of Malaysia.

The group had cited Sheikh Qaradawi, who said some conditions need to be met before Hudud is implemented which includes:

• Establish true Islam where society is pious and God-fearing;
• Ensure the economic needs of the people are met;
• Provide employment opportunities for all; and
• Reduce the income gap and ensure there is no poverty.

However, Lim pointed out that Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah had refuted this position, claiming meeting these conditions would be impossible and “utopian”.

Albeit the dismissal of the Sheik’s stand, Lim said PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had campaigned around the country prior to GE 13, saying that hudud could only be implemented if there were adequate conditions. According to Lim, Hadi had said that the conditions for hudud did not exist without minimum wage provisions or the resolutions of problems such as poverty and unemployment.

“Was Hadi guilty of pursuing utopia or was he not being honest and truthful in his promises to the voters?” asked Lim.

Violation of agreements with equal partners, Sabah and Sarawak

“The flirtation of UMNO “UG” conspirators with PAS with the lure of hudud implementation in Kelantan has become a double-edged sword, capable of destroying both Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional,” says Kit Siang

Lim said that DAP also fully agreed with G25’s statement that hudud was in violation of the 20 Point Agreement (Sabah) and the 18 Point Agreement (Sarawak) which the Federal Government had negotiated with the Borneo states before the formation of Malaysia.

Point 1 of the 20 point agreement says; “While there was no objection to Islam being the national religion of Malaysia, there should be no State religion in Sabah, and the provisions relating to Islam in the present Constitution of Malaya should not apply to Sabah”

Also, Sarawak’s 18 point agreement says “everyone shall be entitled to worship as he pleases”.

Lim, like the G25, said that the implementation of hudud would be a violation of the agreements reached between the members of the Alliance party in 1957 and the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

Lim said that if Prime Minister Najib announced its support for the private member’s bill moved by Hadi Awang, Najib would lose all credentials and credibility with regard to his international initiative of a Global Moderate Movement of Moderates where he had advocated moderation at various international platforms – including at the United Nations General Assembly.

“This is why the flirtation of Umno unity government conspirators with PAS with the lure of hudud implementation in Kelantan has become a double-edged sword, capable of destroying both Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional,” he said, alluding to the idea of a unity government which is believed to have gained support from a small faction in PAS.

PAS’s private member bill on hudud is expected to be tabled in Parliament in May, the passing of which would enable hudud implementation in Kelantan.

DAP had recently severed ties with Hadi after the latter failed to abide by Pakatan Rakyat consensus with his push for hudud law in Kelantan.

– The Rocket