Mahathir gets earful on #Hudud after daring Nik Aziz

Sep 22: PAS today stressed that any proposal for the implementation of hudud laws in Kelantan would have to go through multiple democratic procedures.
L-R: Nik Aziz, Dr Mahathir

PAS Central Committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said even after winning the election, the Islamic party will seek the mandate of the people before implementing the Islamic criminal laws which stipulate deterrent punishment on serious crimes.

Dzulkefly was responding to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who urged Kelantan Menteri Besar Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat should now implement the laws because he no longer was the prime minister.


Then, Mahathir, in a letter to Nik Aziz, warned Kelantan it had no right to implement hudud as it did not have any backing from the Federal government to amend the Federal Constitution.

Dzulkefly said PAS would never carry out any 'back-door' method to implement its policies, adding that Mahathir's motive to suddenly bring up the subject of Islamic laws was to stir up Pakatan Rakyat parties.

In his response, Nik Aziz questioned Mahathir’s understanding of prime ministerial decree, and said it would not expire when a prime minister quit his post.

“Are all matters null and void when there is a change of prime minister? Tun Mahathir’s challenge is funny indeed,” said the PAS Murshidul Am.

Nik Aziz dared prime minister Najib Razak to retract the prime ministerial opposition to hudud and allow Kelantan to implement the laws to prove UMNO's self-claimed commitment to Islam.

Anwar backs Kelantan

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said he was in support of the Kelantan state government's move to implement hudud as it had specifically mentioned the rights of non-Muslims.

L-R: Anwar and Dzulkefly

“(Kelantan Menteri Besar) Nik Aziz (Nik Mat) had previously suggested that several aspects of hudud be implemented but the Federal government objected to it. Mahathir disallowed the state to proceed.

"Looking at the legislation that is being proposed now, two things are guaranteed and that is important: the execution of specific areas of Islamic laws on Muslims would not infringe the rights of non-Muslims, and the fair administration of justice,” Anwar was quoted as saying by news portal Free Malaysia Today.

Commenting further on Mahathir’s remark, Dzulkefly said the former prime minister’s tactical move would not work.

He said Barisan Nasional had been opposing Islamic laws since 1965, and questioned why the coalition did not implement it when it had always enjoyed two-third majority in the Parliament..

“If it was true that Tun (Mahathir) and UMNO leaders were not objecting, why hudud was not approved when BN had two-third majority during Abdullah Badawi’s tenure as prime minister?” he asked.