Now PAS says it was mere politicking

Now PAS says it was mere politicking
KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 — The Chinese media are going to town with PAS deputy spiritual leader Haron Din's comments on implementing hudud laws when it gains power in Parliament but the Islamist party has dismissed the controversy as mere politicking.

Senior leaders told The Malaysian Insider that Haron was just responding to a reader's query on hudud law implementation.

"It's just mere politicking," PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa said.

MCA president Ong Ka Ting was reported by The Star as condemning the PAS move.

“Once PAS is strong, it will amend the Federal Constitution to implement hudud laws. Their partners in the coalition should openly declare their stand on the statement," The Star quoted Ong as saying after chairing the party's presidential council meeting.

Another senior leader said Haron's statement was twisted by the Chinese media as the deputy spiritual chief had only remarked that it would be a priority if PAS controls the Federal Government and can amend the Federal Constitution on its own.

"The reality is different. MCA is just trying to make us look bad," said the senior leader who declined to be named.

He also said that Haron's response in its entirety reflected PAS’s commitment to ensure social and economic justice to those under its rule.

The PAS government in Kelantan had enacted hudud laws after it took power in the 1990 election but it remains on the books and not implemented as criminal laws are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government.

Party officials said conservative factions in PAS are maintaining its fundamentalist stance that includes hudud laws despite leaders like Nasharuddin and others keen to steer the party in an amiable and realistic middle-of-the-road outlook to share power with the DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat in the Pakatan Rakyat alliance under opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim.

"The party is doing well with its moderate stand but there are leaders who are uneasy and pressing to stick to their raison d'etre — an Islamic state. President Abdul Hadi Awang has his hands full with both sides," a party official told The Malaysian Insider.