KUALA LUMPUR: The DAP yesterday asked PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to leave the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition pact if he insists on tabling a Private Member’s bill over hudud law in the Dewan Rakyat.
Its secretary-general, Lim Guan Eng, said the DAP did not question the democratic right of Abdul Hadi to table any bill in Parliament but, in this case, he would have to do so as an MP and not as a member of the PR.
“If he insists on tabling the Private Member’s bill, it is better that he leave the Pakatan Rakyat,” he said, adding that Abdul Hadi had gone against his word to the PR that he would obtain its blessings before tabling such a bill.
Lim told reporters at the lobby of Parliament House that Abdul Hadi had reneged on his pledge to seek the blessings of the PR before giving notice to the Dewan Rakyat on the Private Member’s bill.
The Kelantan legislative assembly had approved the Syariah Criminal Code II 1993 (Amendment 2015) Bill or hudud law last week, but the state government can only implement the law after an amendment to Article 76A (1) of the Federal Constitution and the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 pertaining to the jurisdiction of the Syariah courts.
PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar confirmed on Monday that Abdul Hadi had notified Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia on the proposed tabling of the Private Member’s bill.
The Dewan Rakyat received the notice on March 18.
In Marang, attempts to get Abdul Hadi to comment on Lim’s statement failed.
The PAS president declined to meet reporters when approached at his home in Rusila, saying he was unwell.
“No comments, I am not well,” the Marang MP told the reporters.
PAS central committee member and Pasir Mas MP Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz asked the DAP to leave PR instead.
He said it would be easier if the DAP were to leave PR instead of using the excuse of the hudud law to put pressure on Abdul Hadi.
“Instead of asking someone to leave, it will be better if the DAP withdrew (from PR) … that will be easier,” he told reporters at the lobby of Parliament House.
Nik Mohamad Abduh claimed that the DAP was using the hudud issue to reject PAS cooperation in the PR.
“I would prefer the DAP to be more specific. If it wants PAS to leave PR, it should say so,” he said.
PAS information chief Mahfuz, meanwhile, said the DAP stand went contrary to the principles of the PR leadership council.
“How can they (DAP) not cooperate or communicate with the PAS president when the president, deputy president, vice-president and so on are represented in the council?” he asked.
Mahfuz said he would communicate with the PAS secretary-general to convene a meeting of leaders to determine the PAS stand over the DAP decision. — Bernama