DAP Bandar Utama Branch Vice Chairman Edry Faizal
Under fire from PAS quarters for opposing Hudud, DAP advises the Islamic party to adhere to Pakatan Rakyat’s common policy framework.
Responding to Ketua Penerangan Dewan Ulama PAS Datuk Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali who accused the DAP of “hindering democracy” by opposing attempts to enact Hudud law, DAP’s Bandar Utama Branch Vice Chairman Edry Faizal said that Hudud was not part of the Pakatan Rakyat framework.
“The Pakatan common policy framework is not merely to oppose Barisan Nasional, but a platform of shared values of the three parties that make up Pakatan Rakyat,” said Edry in a statement.
He said that Malaysians of all backgrounds are to be defended and fought for, according this Pakatan framework – which Hudud law is not a part of.
Pakatan’s common policy framework is outlined in the ‘Buku Jingga’; where Pakatan Rakyat states its stand against various issues as part of its administration master plan. The abolishing of tolls, increasing the people’s disposable incomes and royalties paid by government to oil producing states stand out as a few social contract manifesto’s penned in this framework.
Though admitting the differences between the components of PR, Edry said that the DAP is confident that the common policy framework would unite the interests of the otherwise unique parties.
DAP has long defended the secular constitution of the country on the basis that non religious laws are inclusive, while religious law such as Hudud, are exclusive and unsuitable for multiracial multireligious Malaysia. However, PAS, being an Islamic party insists that Hudud law is necessary for Muslims in the country. This is also enshrined in PAS’s constitution.
Earlier this week, Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said that the state’s plan to implement Hudud would be realized soon.
The Kelantan MB had called for a special state assembly meeting set for December 29 to table Hudud, and to ammend the Shariah Criminal Code Enactment II.
At the DAP National Conference on Sunday, party Secretary General Lim Guan Eng said that the DAP took a united stand against Hudud.
Reacting to this, Khairuddin blamed DAP for being undemocratic in refusing to agree with PAS that wishes to carry on with its Hudud agenda.
“It is PAS’s right to bring this law to fruition in two states which have a Muslim majority that are Kelantan and Terengganu which encompasses only Muslim criminals through the Syariah court; unless non-Muslim criminals choose that the law be used on them based on the principles of ‘mutatis mutandis’,” he said.
He also accused the DAP of trying to break up the Pakatan Rakyat coalition when opposing the implementation of Hudud law by PAS in one of the resolutions passed during DAP’s National Conference.
Edry believes that the PAS’s tabling of Hudud went beyond expanding their own ideologies, and that it sidesteps into public policy.
“Personal interests cannot find its way into public policies if there aren’t agreed upon by Pakatan Rakyat; of course the DAP would advise otherwise.”
“This is not due to hate (for PAS), just a reminder to a friend not to stray away from what was jointly agreed.”
Edry also criticized Khairuddin for accusing the DAP of trying to break up the PR coalition, reminding PAS that DAP has never acted against its common policy.
“If that was an attempt to fracture Pakatan, how can unity be achieved by putting aside the common policy framework?” he asked.
He also gave Khairuddin a few lessons on democracy, in the hypothetical event that Pakatan Rakyat comes into power.
“Democracy does not mean that when the people elect a party to come into power, the party can do whatever it likes without the approval of the people; this includes heeding the voices of the minority.”
“Is that not the attitude of UMNO and Barisan Nasional that we have fought all along?”
“Or are there amongst us in Pakatan Rakyat who want to be like UMNO and Barisan Nasional?” fired Edry.
