Anwar backs hudud laws in Kelantan

Teoh El Sen | September 22, 2011

He also challenges Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to state his stand over the issue which Mahathir had opposed during his tenure.

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today said he supported the call for the implementation of hudud laws in Kelantan and at the same time asked Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to state his stand over the issue.

“In principle, I believe it can be implemented. Looking at specific areas, there is clear guarantee of an administration of justice and it does not in any way infringe on the rights of non-Muslims,” he said.

However, Anwar, the Permatang Pauh MP, said he was giving his views in his personal capacity and not on behalf of Pakatan Rakyat as he said the coalition has not yet discussed the matter.

“(Kelantan Menteri Besar) Nik Aziz (Nik Mat) had previously suggested that several aspects of hudud law be implemented but the federal governent had objected to it.

“Mahathir disallowed the state to proceed. But looking at the legislation that is being proposed now, two things are guaranteed and that is important.

“That is the execution of specific areas of Islamic laws for Muslim would not infringe on the rights of non-Muslims and the administration of justice is fair,” he said.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad challenged PAS spiritual Nik Aziz yesterday to implement hudud, now that he was no longer the prime minister.

‘Letter from Dr M to Kelantan MB still valid’

Nik Aziz dismissed Mahathir’s suggestion today and instead, challenged Najib to withdraw any objection the government still had over Kelantan’s plans to implement hudud.

Mahathir, when he was prime minister, had previously written to the Kelantan menteri besar to inform him that the state did not have a right to implement hudud.

Among others, hudud law prescribes stoning, whipping and amputation as punishment for criminal offences.

Nik Aziz, in a Facebook posting, said that the letter from Mahathir to the Kelantan mentri besar was still valid unless the current federal government says otherwise.

PAS tried unsuccessfully to introduce hudud and other strict Islamic laws as the federal government refused to sanction any vote to amend the Federal Constitution for such laws.

During its recent party elections, PAS had announced that it was pushing for a “welfare state” rather than an Islamic state.

Mahathir had subsequently said DAP chairman Karpal Singh, who was strongly against an Islamic state, was the actual winner in the PAS elections.

Mahathir had said that PAS’ new push for a welfare state was proof that the Islamist party had abandoned its fight for an Islamic state to appease its Pakatan