KUCHING: United People’s Party (UPP) will not let the spark of Hudud law burn the entire nation as they lend their voice to the strong opposition against the implementation of such law in Malaysia.
Its president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh has expressed worry and deep concern that if the Hudud bill is passed in Parliament, Malaysia will become more extreme and possibly become countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan or Iran.
“We cannot say that it will not affect non-Muslims,” he emphasised when commenting on the issue over Hudud law which the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly passed last Thursday.
Wong gave these views yesterday when he graced the opening of UPP Padungan branch office and website at Jalan Pending here.
“According to the Islamic law, certain punishments are maintained and will definitely have implications on non-Muslims,” he said.
He pointed out that there was an urgent need for a comprehensive action plan to deal with the situation and issues as they arise.
“The Chinese community in particular needs to work closely together and should unite to prevent such thing from happening,” he urged.
Quoting a Chinese expression ‘a small spark can start a fire that burns the entire prairie’, meaning do not underestimate the potential destructive power that seemingly minor problems can spread, Wong said he would not want to see such extreme ideology penetrating into the soil of Sarawak and Malaysia in general.
“We cannot follow the talks of Lim Guan Eng (Penang chief minister and DAP secretary-general) to ‘let it pass first’ or ‘let them do first’, as this are very irresponsible words and action,” he warned.
Mindful of Malaysia being a multi-racial and multi-religious country, Wong assured that they would stand together with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem and give all their support to prevent such extremism from reaching Sarawak.
“We don’t want this issue to affect any Sarawakians. Sarawak has been practising good political values all this while,” he said, pointing at Adenan’s move of disallowing Umno into the state.
“We also do not want outside parties such as PKR and DAP in Sarawak promoting and fishing for votes. On one hand, they could be considered the culprits who have helped their ally to grow,” he added.
Wong stressed that the consequences of their actions were now unfavourable and unfair to the Chinese community in particular.
“Therefore, we absolutely agree with the Chief Minister that Sarawak should be governed by its own people and parties,” he said.
“BN Sarawak consists of truly local parties who know the terrain of our land and needs of the people well.
“As such we stand beside the chief minister in reviving such establishment and guarding our rights zealously,” he added.