Motion to block a Private Member's Bill tabled by PAS
president Abdul Hadi Awang to pave the way for the implementation of hudud in Kelantan goes against
the freedom of religion, says PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
The practice like burning hell money by the Chinese communities or
the cremation of bodies, Tuan Ibrahim said, is not banned, even though these
pollute the environment.
This is because there is freedom to practise one's beliefs
in Malaysia, however one sees fit.
Similarly, he said, Muslims should be allowed to practise
their religion as they see fit.
"Imagine, if there was a party that wants to ban the
burning of anything, including the cremation of remains, for environmental
reasons. Can this happen?
"So, it is impossible for any political pact for the
sake of barring Muslims from fulfilling their obligations, especially in the
case of something as small as amending Act 355 to raise the jurisdiction of
syariah courts," Tuan Ibrahim said in a statement.
"Muslims have their religious obligations, as others do
in their religions. Muslim obligations do not interfere with that of other
religions."
He added it is misconception that the implementation of
hudud in Kelantan could involve amputations.
Act 355, Tuan Ibrahim said, does not include the offences of
theft or robbery because these fall under the federal list.
Act 355 only covers offences provided for in respective of
syariah enactments at state level.
In the case of Kelantan, hudud punishments are only for zina
(sex outside marriage), qazaf (accusing others of sexual misconduct without
proof), consumption of alcohol and apostasy, he said.
Similarly, the Hudud Bill does not touch on murder and rape,
which are on federal list, under the Penal Code.
"PAS did not take the easy route, and the PAS president
is tabling a motion so the bill can be debated before being accepted by
Parliament.
"If fulfils the proceedings of democracy practised in
this country. How is it unconstitutional?" Tuan Ibrahim asked.
'PAS continues to oppose the government'
He said while PAS appreciates the BN government's decision
to prioritise Hadi's Bill ahead of the government business in Parliament on May
26, it is not an indicator of collusion.
"This is a matter of religion, just like how the
Umno-led government approves construction of temples in opposition-held areas.
"But PAS continues to oppose the government on the
issue of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, the goods and services tax
and 1MDB," he said.
Accusations of PAS-Umno cooperation are rich, considering
the hardships faced by prolonged discrimination faced by residents of PAS-led
Kelantan from the BN-led federal government.
"PAS members endured all of this. So it is strange for
some quarters to repeatedly accuse PAS of cooperating with Umno," he said.
The fact that Umno and PAS competing against each
other in the Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections also debunks the
collusion theory, Tuan Ibrahim added.
Source -MKini-
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