Dato' Nik Aziz Nik Mat: Why the double standard? (NST)
Pas to call for hudud, qisas if merger happens
Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat is worried that parties against the proposal will sabotage it.
KOTA BARU: Pas will propose the implementation of hudud and qisas if the proposed Pas-Umno merger materialises.
Speaking after launching a building fund for the Baraah mosque, here yesterday, Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said the proposal was in line with Islamic principles and could be implemented if both parties, which are currently having discussions on Malay and Muslim issues, agreed to form a new political entity.
In Islamic law (syariah), hudud refers to mandatory corporal punishments for certain crimes, including theft, robbery, illicit sex, alcohol consumption and apostasy.
Qisas (law of retaliation) refers to offences that involve bodily injury or loss of life. The punishment for these offences is death or imprisonment, but compensation in the form of money or property is accepted if the victim's guardian forgives the offender.
Nik Aziz, who is also menteri besar, said in the muqabalah spirit between Pas and Umno, any new political entity must be based on Islam, including implementing hudud.
"What worries me is that if the pact materialises, there'll be people trying to sabotage it by putting up a candidate who is against the proposal."
He said all quarters, including Malays, Chinese and Indians should hold discussions and give their views towards better understanding of Islam.
However, he said what was important was ensuring the success of the Pas-Umno dialogue before discussing the future of the Muslim community.
In Putrajaya, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Nik Aziz's suggestion could be an excuse not to continue with the muqabalah.
"It is just a proposal by one leader and we should not take it as a final decision but I wonder what is the intention of raising hudud?
"Does Pas want to talk to Umno honestly or not? If one is not sincere, one can come up with a hundred excuses.
"If hudud is a condition Pas wants to set in order to continue with the talks, why do they only set conditions when talking to Umno but not with their Pakatan Rakyat partners?" Ahmad Shabery, who is also Kemaman Umno division deputy head, said.
He also questioned whether DAP had a "secret pact" with Pas on accepting hudud, since DAP had previously stated its objection to the proposal.
Ahmad Shabery said the issue of Pas re-joining Umno was not on the cards as the talks were about Malay unity. (NST Online, 31 July 2008)
Comment:
A state with a population as homogeneous as Kelantan should have no problem accepting Hudud and qisas, I guess. However I presume Kelantan is already implementing such laws and that is mainly the reason why we never hear anybody in the state, committed of crime, however petty the crime is being stoned to death or has his or hands amputated. Kelantan ia a free-crime state at least in the last decade.
Since the formation Pakatan Rakyat government in Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor in March 08, Nik Aziz might have been a very busy man formulating specific terms to implement hudud in these states. I'm sure the pre-conditions imposed by Nik Aziz to join Pakatan coalition have been agreed upon and consensus reached." Unless someone is practising double standard here. No hudud and qisas for Pakatan but a must for BN (read: UMNO).
Food for thought: Why is Nik Aziz so opposed to the idea of establishing a "Brotherhood in Islam" with another Islam-centred party and yet so warmed to welcoming another opposed to Islamic ideology? I could not think of any better reason other than political. And rightly so!
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