KUCHING: Umno as the back backbone of Barisan Nasional (BN) should not lean towards PAS by supporting the Syariah Courts Act (Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1965) (Act 355) tabled by PAS’ president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as it would create tension among the other 12 BN component parties, says PRS president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing.
He said Umno’s stand on the Bill could be construed as backstabbing non-Muslim BN component parties.
“We have a talk among the BN non-Muslim component parties to say no to the bill,” Masing told The Borneo Post at his office at the DUN complex here yesterday.
He asserted that even without PAS, the BN led by Umno could still win the upcoming 14th General Election.
“We still can win (the general election) together, but you (Umno) must not waver and don’t create doubts. You can’t support PAS and leave us behind. This is a multi-racial and multi-religious nation,” he stressed, adding that PAS was once in the BN but left the coalition in 1978.
Masing said Umno and PAS political leaning had never been the same as the latter was always focusing on making the country Islamic while Umno has been liberal in its approach.
“They have been together before, but they have divorced, it will not work again because no matter how much they want to dilute their affiliation, it’s just like oil and water. They can never mix,” said Masing.
The deputy chief minister pointed out that it was pointless for Umno to ‘hijack’ PAS’ bill as the essence of the bill remained the same.
“To me, once you touch the religious act on Islam, non-Muslims will feel uneasy. We have been living so peacefully in last 53 years, why do you need to amend the law now? What’s wrong with it? Does the enhancement of the Hudud make Muslims much better in the eyes of God? I do not know but the Syariah law that we have in 1963 has been keeping us going for the last 53 years,” he said.
Masing also warned that it was wrong to politicise religion to gain the support of the people.
He pointed out that Hudud has never been an issue in Sarawak as Muslims and non-Muslims had been living in peace and harmony.
Masing’s view was supported by SUPP president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian who stressed that his party’s stance remain unchanged as the party considered Malaysia a secular state.
“No, we won’t change our view. Whether the bill is presented by PAS or by the prime minister, we consider it Hudud law. So for us, we won’t support the bill,” Dr Sim told The Borneo Post on the sideline of the DUN sitting here yesterday.
Recently, Dr Sim had told The Borneo Post: “We respect Islam. But MA63 said Malaysia is a secular state and Sarawak signed the agreement based on that,” he reiterated.
As of yesterday, State BN president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem who is also PBB president continued to maintain the view that the party will give consideration to support the amendment as “the bill is not Hudud”.
On the other hand, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said his party’s stance on the Bill was that it should be discussed objectively and rationally and should not be used as a platform to achieve political mileage.