Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR: PKR must support the PAS-led Kelantan state government’s bid to implement Islamic criminal law, or hudud, in the state since its top leaders are Muslim, Selangor PAS said. Selangor PAS information chief Zaidy Abdul Taalib said PKR should not follow DAP’s anti-hudud stance as the majority of DAP leaders are non-Muslim.

“We cannot force the non-Muslims. But for the Muslims, it is compulsory for us to accept it. We must believe in it, we have our faith. If we reject it, we are committing a sin.

“So from the perspective of being Muslims, PKR cannot reject it. They must support it,” he told reporters at an event at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) yesterday.

Zaidy said PAS had championed hudud from the beginning, noting that it is in line with the party’s constitution to set up an Islamic government. The Taman Templer state assemblyman said PAS members now have to educate the people, especially non-Muslims, on how hudud can be used to reduce crime.

“PAS’ constitution clearly states that we want to create a society and government that has Islamic values, in line with the religion’s teachings. Now it is PAS’  responsibility to spread this understanding. In terms of understanding, we cannot force DAP.”

However, the Selangor Infrastructure, Public Amenities and Agro-based Industries executive councillor is optimistic the hudud issue will not jeapordise PAS’ ties in Pakatan Rakyat. He said that unlike Barisan Nasional (BN), the parties in Pakatan are open about their respective stances and this ensures that their relationship remains mature.

“Our openness is our strength. If we disagree over an issue, we discuss it to lessen our differences, and that is the strength of Pakatan.”

DAP has repeatedly demanded that PAS shelve its plans in Kelantan, stressing that the Islamic criminal code is not part of the opposition’s common policy framework.

PKR: Zakat more important than hudud in achieving justice

Meanwhile, PKR central committee member Latheefa Koya said PAS should be prioritising zakat (giving of alms) instead of hudud, as the distribution of wealth to the needy is far more important than punishment in order for a state to achieve real justice. Latheefa said those in PAS who champion hudud fail to understand the priorities in Islamic governance, which are justice, kindness and wisdom.

She added that a “clear political agenda” exists in PAS’ renewed push to implement hudud in Kelantan, given that there are more important and higher objectives in Islam.

“Under Islam, it is the welfare of citizens, Muslim or otherwise, that is paramount. This takes precedence over hudud,” she said in a statement. “Zakat is the most potent tool for any Islamic government to ensure the welfare of its citizens.”

She said Kelantan, as one of the poorer states in the country, needs zakat to be administered competently and according to proper Islamic principles, and not hudud.

She added that zakat is now poorly administered, with billions collected yearly but not reaching the poor and needy. — The Malaysian Insider

 

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on December 23, 2014.

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