Headline Hudud still a stumbling block MediaTitle New Straits Times Date 27 Jul 2015 Language English Circulation 74,711 Readership 240,000 Section Local News Color Full Color Page No 6 ArticleSize 300 cm² AdValue RM 10,341 PR Value RM 31,024

Hudud still a stumbling block

SYED UMAR ARIFF AND ADRIAN LAI KUALA LUMPUR: How well will Ger­ As for GHB, its interim committee the courts make a final decision on akan Harapan Barn (GHB) fare in the member Khalid Abdul Samad said the matter. new opposition pact, with hudud re­ hudud could only be implemented "This issue will be discussed maining part and parcel of the Pas when certain conditions, in­ openly with our allies and we will splinter group's core ideology? cluding economic justice explain to them our stand and po­ Pivoting its objectives on Egyptian and equitable distribution, sition. We respect their right to dis­ Islamic theologian Yusuf al­ had been established. agree and all parties can do what is Qaradawi's dogma, which suggests The Shah Alam mem­ considered necessary according to prioritising the necessary, GHB has ber of parliament and for­ the laws of the country to achieve put hudud on the back­burner to mer Pas committee mem­ their objective," Khalid told the New differentiate itself from Pas, thus, for ber said the new opposition Straits Times. now, negating the possibility of an alliance would deal with the is­ The new opposition pact, as sug­ inter­party row with DAP. sue of hudud "when the time gested by jailed PKR de facto leader Nevertheless, such a moderate ap­ comes". Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, would proach was similarly employed by "Hudud is the last item to be im­ consist of "progressive forces", and Pas when it joined the now­defunct plemented when support for Islamic the mainstay partners are expected Pakatan seven years ago, before the governance is achieved. While DAP to be PKR, DAP and prospective par­ Islamic party "broke ranks" to fur­ believes that it (hudud) goes against ty GHB. Loosely an iteration of ther its religious goals. the Federal Constitution, we think Pakatan, it is understood the new otherwise. That debate will end once Headline Hudud still a stumbling block MediaTitle New Straits Times Date 27 Jul 2015 Language English Circulation 74,711 Readership 240,000 Section Local News Color Full Color Page No 6 ArticleSize 300 cm² AdValue RM 10,341 PR Value RM 31,024

pact will adopt the former's consen­ former Pas central committee mem­ ising perceptions of zealotry, GHB s sus, which excludes hudud. Its im­ ber Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa stay in the new pact could be for the pending challenge will be the com­ said the movement would adhere to long­term, said Universiti Utara mitment to hold component mem­ the principles of parliamentary Malaysia political analyst associate bers under one flag, as religious and democracy and consultation professor Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd secular objectives did not mix well in when discussing the issue Sani. previous opposition pacts. of Syariah law. "They see hudud as a stumbling If GHB decides to champion the "However, looking at block before a political gambit. This implementation of controversial Is­ Syariah law from a larger is different from Pas which from the lamic laws for example, it will meet scope, we believe that it 1980's had championed hudud. with DAP's immovable stand on the can provide people with a GHB is subscribing to a different matter. more comfortable life." school of Islamic thought. "DAP remains committed to the It is understood that other "However why the need to main­ common policy framework. (In the non­governmental organisations in tain hudud as one of its objectives? new pact) we will only work with the newly announced opposition al­ Other than that as a Muslim you are those who adhere to the consensus. liance, including Malaysian Islamic not allowed to reject the religion's Our stand on hudud remains un­ Youth Movement (Abim) and Per­ laws, it is also likely because GHB changed as it is not included in the tubuhan Ikram Malaysia (Ikram), al­ does not want to be seen as any less policy framework," said DAP law­ so support the implementation of Islamic than Pas." maker Gobind Singh Deo yesterday. Syariah law. Another known GHB member and By sidelining hudud and neutral­

K»­. ­ Khalid Abdul Samad says the Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa new opposition alliance will deal believes syariah can give people a with hudud when the time comes more comfortable life