Guan Eng told to quit for promoting PAS to voters

A Penang BN leader has joined the fray blaming DAP for PAS insisting on implementing hudud by tabling a motion on the matter in Parliament in its recent sitting.

However PAS then requested that debate on the motion be postponed to the next sitting.

Gerakan national legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh said it was DAP who should shoulder the blame as the party had encouraged voters to vote for PAS in the national polls, including the last general election in 2013.

"Has DAP forgotten it told the Chinese voters that hudud will not affect them, it would only affect Umno leaders?" Baljit reminded.

"So DAP should take responsibility for this, why is it playing politics?" Baljit asked.

Baljit was referring to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng's claim that BN and PAS had collaborated to bring up the hudud issue in the Dewan Rakyat for political purposes.

The Penang chief minister also queried why was BN facilitating PAS in this process, and demanded the leaders of its component parties state their position.

Several BN leaders, including Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong and MCA's Liow Tiong Lai, have vowed to quit their posts if the Hudud Bill was passed in Parliament.

But according to Prime Minister Najib Razak, the Bill is only to enhance the punishment that Syariah Courts can mete out, and that is not about hudud.

Najib also assured that the Islamic law would not be imposed on non-Muslims.

Baljit said DAP is the culprit as it is still working with PAS in Selangor, as they are part of the state government led by PKR and its Menteri Besar Azmin Ali.

PKR has continued to keep its ties with PAS although the party is in a new coalition - Pakatan Harapan - with DAP and Parti Amanah Negara.

Baljit urged Guan Eng to resign since he is responsible directly or indirectly, for PAS having so many seats in Parliament.

In the 222, BN has133 seats, DAP 38, PKR 30 and PAS 21.

"DAP is at its strongest and yet they cannot control Pakatan Harapan, even Parti Amanah Negara is supporting PAS in this (tabling of hudud in Parliament). Thank you, DAP," Baljit said.

"Gerakan has only two seats in Parliament and DAP has 38, why can't they be more proactive rather than playing politics?" he added.

Hadi's bill, which he tabled in Parliament last week via a motion, is officially named the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill 2016.

The bill seeks to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 or Act 355 which limits the Syariah Courts’ punishment to a maximum fine of RM5,000, three years' jail or six strokes of the rotan.

The Bill, if passed, would ultimately pave the way for the partial implementation of the Islamic penal code, specifically in PAS-ruled Kelantan which had already passed an enactment to that effect.

However, the Kelantan state's enactment cannot be implemented as long as restrictions exist that limit Syariah Court sentencing.