KOTA KINABALU: LDP Youth chief Tsang Hieng Yee has lambasted former LDP president Datuk VK Liew and the party’s Karambunai head Loretto S. Padua for “twisting” the recent statement made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on the issue of hudud law.
He said Najib had never said that both Muslim and non-Muslim communities in the country must be ready for the implementation of hudud law.
He pointed out that what the Prime Minister stated was that the government had not rejected hudud as Allah’s law but in respect of its implementation, it is not so straightforward.
The Prime Minister, said Tsang, merely and had rightly said that before hudud can be implemented, the many restraints and issues surrounding its implementation must first be resolved.
“At no time has the Prime Minister said that hudud law will be implemented and that the government supports its implementation. Datuk Liew Vui Keong’s and Loretto S. Padua’s statements seem to be misleading and misconceived.
“These two gentlemen (Liew and Loretto) may have jumped to the conclusion most desired by them too soon without full appreciation of the entire scenario and the full picture of the matter. Their insistence on full uniformity of our Party’s stand with the Prime Minister’s one only further reveals the “Yes Man” attitude of these two gentlemen,” he said in a statement yesterday.
As the elected representative for the people, Tsang said LDP president Datuk Teo Chee Kang had made clear the party’s stand on PAS’ attempt to introduce hudud law.
“Such conduct by Datuk Teo is commendable, laudable and courageous one. He has not forgotten his duty owed to the general public who had voted him as their representative to speak out whenever necessary.
“His (Teo) stand on hudud is never in conflict with the one by the Prime Minister and by speaking his honest opinion, he has not breached the principle of collective responsibility, as insinuated by Datuk Liew Vui Keong,” he added.
Since the inception of PAS’ intention to table its private bill in Parliament in order to pave the way for the introduction of hudud law in Kelantan, LDP has been clear of its stand in relation to such attempt by PAS.
“LDP stand is similar to our brother, component parties within BN and numerous NGOs. Our party’s stand to reject the introduction of hudud penalty into our legal system is definitely not religious or racial in nature.
“We respect and accept hudud as a penal regime within Syariah Laws. Our party’s rejection of Hudud is solely due to its contradiction with the Federal Constitution, particularly, the right of equality promised by Article 8 therein and the difficulty of its implementation and ongoing supervision within the current social atmosphere of Malaysia,” Tsang said.