MCA wants Cabinet ministers who openly supported PAS’ hudud initiative to be dealt with by the BN top brass.
Wanita MCA chief Heng Seai Kie was referring to Minister in the Prime Minister Department Jamil Khir and the International Trade and Industry ministerMustapa Mohamed who declared their support forhudud in Kelantan.
They have also expressed their willingness to participate in a technical committee to review the implementation of the Islamic law in Kelantan, she added.
“I strongly urge the BN whip to take disciplinary action against cabinet ministers and instruct them to leave the joint technical committee with Kelantan PAS government immediately.
“It is disappointing when two of BN Cabinet ministers had not only expressed their support towards PAS’ Hudud Bill but also announced their participation in the technical committee to review the implementation of hudud law in Kelantan,” Heng said in a press statement.
The national level technical committee was actually proposed by Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin for PAS, federal government agencies and other religious experts to look into the finer details before implementing hudud in Kelantan.
“The committee will look from all angles of hudud and how it could be implemented in Malaysia, especially in Kelantan or whether it could be implemented or otherwise,” Muhyiddin had said.
The MCA Wanita chief described that BN’s philosophy has always been based on justice, equality and unity which have seen Malaysia developed into a modern nation.
Therefore Heng added, the action taken by the two cabinet ministers has gone against BN’s governing policy.
“Neither the BN Supreme Council nor the Cabinet had discussed nor reached a consensus on PAS’ actions.
“Since independence, our philosophy has been based on justice, equality, unity and mutual respect through the principle of power-sharing.
“Therefore, the action of the two BN ministers has gone against our national principles, and has also deviated from BN’s governing policy since independence,” Heng stated.
PAS had indicated that they will table a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament to pave the way for hududimplementation in Kelantan.
Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said the passage of the bill would enable the establishment of a Syariah Special Court and a Syariah Special Appeals Court.
However, after a public outcry, PAS decided to postpone the matter pending the outcome of the Umno-proposed joint technical committee on the issue.
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said that the move gives the technical committee some space to go through the proposal and take further action.