KUALA LUMPUR: Umno should make a stand now on PAS’ hudud and not pretend to be surprised with the Islamist party’s push for the implementation of the Islamic criminal law in Kelantan, says Tun Musa Hitam.

The former deputy prime minister said hudud is not suitable for a country like Malaysia, expressing his disappointment over Umno’s slow response to the issue.

“I am disappointed that Umno appeared to be shocked (by PAS’s move) and until now have yet to decide on its stance. I have been worried about this for some time,” he said in a statement from Cordoba, Spain.

“Umno must take a firm stance. This national issue has a very long implication on the country, both domestically and internationally,”

He said Umno could not afford to be seen as trying to outdo PAS on this issue.

“Don’t try to be more PAS than PAS themselves. Umno should not be trying to out-PAS PAS!”, he said.

With PAS’ partners, DAP and PKR deciding not to support PAS’ hudud bill should it be tabled in Parliament, the onus is now on Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) to clarify whether it supported the bill.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is expected to make an announcement on BN’s stand on PAS’ hudud soon.

Several BN component parties had given their views during the recent meeting and it was up to the prime minister to disclose it.

Musa, who is also the former Umno deputy president, said when it comes to hudud, the people should not be surprised with PAS’ hudud bill as the party has been championing the issue consistently for a long time.

“And to the opposition parties in Pakatan Rakyat, do not pretend you are not aware of it too,” he said. 

“As a former Umno leader, I strongly believe in my heart that since its establishment until today, Umno’s stance too has been that hudud is not suitable for a multi-religious, multi-racial country like Malaysia,”

Musa said Umno should make a decision on its stance immediately and not brush off the matter.

“The nation will not be the only one that is going to pay for the consequences, Umno too will feel its bad effect, more so that it has served the country for so long,

“Do not let this destroy Umno from within ... don’t self destruct.” he said. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on March 23, 2015.