MCA today ramped up its offensive on Pakatan Rakyat over PAS’ intention to implement hudud law with a panel of experts explaining how non-Muslims would be affected by such laws.
Organised by Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research (Insap), an MCA thinktank, the forum kicked off with former Parti Keadilan Nasional (Keadilan) deputy president Chandra Muzaffar warning that it is a real possibility that a hudud law bill could be passed in Parliament.
"The reality of electoral demographics, meaning the majority of seats would have Muslims MPs, even in Pakatan the majority of MPs are Muslims.
"When there is a private member bill saying let's have hudud law, the chances are that every Muslims member including Umno members will support it... It doesn't matter if DAP supports it or not,” he said.
Chandra, who quit the party he help found in 2001 and later formed an NGO, said then PAS deputy president Abdul Hadi Awang had once tried to table such a bill back in 1999.
However, he and current PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali managed to convince Hadi to do otherwise.
"That would have also put the Umno MPs in a spot if there was a private member's bill. So let us not look at this situation without understanding electoral demographics."
Under the hudud law proposed by PAS, penalties includes death by stoning for adultery and amputation of hands for thieves.
MCA top brass present
MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek, who delivered the keynote address for the event at the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, told a press conference later that Muslim MPs were morally bound to support a hudud law bill if it is tabled in Parliament.
"From the distinguished speakers, it is obvious that hudud in Malaysia will affect everybody, whether Muslims or non-Muslims, it is a lie to say it will not affect non-Muslims,” said Chua in concurrance with Chandra.
Chua was today accompanied by most of his top lieutenants including cabinet minister Liow Tiong Lai, Ng Yen Yen, Kong Cho Ha and deputy ministers Wee Ka Siong and Gan Ping Sieu.
Also invited to the press conference was national PAS Supporters’ Congress chairperson Hu Pang Chow who urged the party’s central committee members to hold dialogues with non-Muslims on the subject.
"If PAS wants to implement hudud law then it must convince all the 28 million Malaysians," he said.
In his keynote speech, Chua had elaborated at length how hudud law would affect the country's economy and foreign investment, something that would ultimately hurt all Malaysians.
“PAS had admitted that if it takes over Pahang, it will close down Genting (Casino) that generates 15,000 jobs and contribute about RM1 billion in taxes and attracts 20 million tourist every year."
He added that the social impact would be double standards as the country will have a dual legal system.
Prominent human rights lawyer Edmund Bon told the forum later that such a dual system already exist in Malaysia through what he calls a process of “creeping Islamisation”.
Dual system already exist
Citing controversies surrounding religious convertion, such as the Lina Joy case, Bon argued that the civil court had abdicated its jurisdiction to the syariah courts.
"We are saying there must be amendments of the constitution to restore the power back to the high courts and clearly say that in matters of conversion, pertaining to all these cases, the civil courts msut have the jurisdiction because the non-Muslims cannot go to the Syariah courts
"I urge leaders of the government, many of them who are here, to really consider this," he said as the crowd of over 400 applauded him.
When asked by reporters later about the appeal, Chua said: "This is a constitutional matter, I am in no position to give you an answer because I am no lawyer."
"We take note of it, but it doesn't mean we have to give an answer straight away."
Chua was also coy when asked if MCA would lobby for the repeal of an enactment in Terengganu which specifies hudud penalties, passed when PAS ruled the state in 2000.
“You can pass a bill, but we don’t have to support its implementation,” he said.
Other speakers at the forum were Terengganu Menteri Besar religious advisor Mohd Kamal Sadin, Umno Young Ulamas working committee chairperson Fathul Bari Mat Jahaya, while Bar Council chairperson Lim Chee Wee was moderator.