DAP ready for muzakarah with Pas over hudud

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP national deputy chairman Dr. Tan Seng Giaw says the party is prepared to have a muzakarah on hudud with Pas, saying unlike Umno and MCA that totally reject the syariah criminal code, DAP has been respecting hudud and syariah law as a part of Islam.

Dr Tan said in actual fact both DAP and Pas have held many discussions on various matters and the hudud issue will not be an exception.

Speaking to The Mole Dr Tan said: “Let me put this straight, Pas and DAP have never stopped discussing about many issues for years since we are in Pakatan Rakyat.”

“It will not be a problem for us to discuss about hudud because unlike Umno and MCA that totally reject it, we are willing to listen,” he added.

Dr. Tan when asked whether an official muzakarah between the DAP and Pas on hudud will be conducted, saying: “We will continue the discussion with each other from time to time.”

“Hudud and the syariah law in Al-Quran is one of fundamental parts of Islam. We respect and are not going to dispute that,” Dr Tan who is the Kepong MP said.

Dr Tan's conciliatory stance over Pas' hudud is a stark contrast to the views of DAP's national chairman Karpal Singh who have outrightly and consistently rejected any attempt to even promote the idea of hudud.

In fact Karpal had recently slammed Pas Youth chief Nasruddin Hassan Tantawi who had, during a political debate, suggested that he (Karpal) had been willing to consider such laws for the country.

“I will never compromise. I have always been very public and absolute on my stand to never have hudud implemented in the country... how then can he (Nasruddin) claim such a thing?” said Karpal in a news report.

A muzakarah is an Islamic form of discussion or dialogue held with the intention of trying to understand each other over contentious issue.

On Monday it was reported the DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng’s political secretary Zairil Khir Johari said the party is willing to have a discussion and better understanding with Pas over any issue especially about Islam and hudud.

The news was received with positive responses from Pas vice president Salahuddin Ayub and its youth head Nasruddin.

Salahuddin had said: “As for now I think Pas will focus on discussing hudud with the DAP as this has been a long-standing issue between the two parties.”

Nasruddin in a short text message reply said he agrees with the idea of a muzakarah on hudud as it will give the DAP more clarity and understanding about Islam.

However MCA Youth Federal Territory Chairman Chiew Lian Keng in a statement criticised DAP's latest stand, saying within the DAP, only its national chairman Karpal Singh has the courage to stand up to Pas while the rest of the leaders preferred to be silent.

In news report last week Karpal urged Pas to put the hudud issue to rest as he claimed the party is defying the Federal Constitution by insisting to declare the country as an Islamic state.

“I cannot see how Pas can say something that is unconstitutional, which in fact defies the Supreme Court position (made in 1988),” Karpal was quoted as saying.

Source: MOLE