“Amanah has made its stand (on hudud) clear. It is a stand that is progressive. DAP respects that,” the MP for Bukit Bendera told FMT.
“We have never rejected hudud as a tenet of Islam. We reject its implementation vis-a-vis our Federal Constitution and the plurality of our population, as well as its suitability given the greater priorities in our country,” Zairil explained.
He was responding to MCA Central Committee Member Ti Lian Ker who had slammed Zairil for his criticism of the PAS-Ikatan alliance.
Ti had said that the DAP was as hypocritical as PAS in its alignment with Amanah, given that Amanah had not “given up its ultimate aim of implementing hudud enactments in Malaysia”.
Zairil said the DAP had issues with PAS not so much over hudud as with the Islamic party not consulting its coalition partners in Pakatan Rakyat before forging ahead on the matter.
“Our problem with PAS was that they went against what was agreed within the coalition. They did not consult us despite promising to do so.
“It (Amanah) is progressive because it’s what we agreed — all such matters are to be consulted with coalition partners. Consultation, or syura, is a tenet of Islam and the basis of democracy,” Zairil said.
Zairil said that Ti should instead ask why MCA was still with Umno, given that Umno had not only voted for and supported hudud in Kelantan, but was also the party responsible for PAS bringing the issue to Parliament.
“DAP’s stand (on hudud) has always been consistent, even before Pakatan Rakyat was forged in 2008. There was no problem for seven years, until the rift last year. One thing (Abdul) Kadir got right: it (hudud) does originate from Umno’s provocation. And that’s a shame,” said Zairil.
Zairil was referring to the comment by Ikatan president Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, who, in downplaying the issue of hudud, had said it was an issue intentionally played up by Umno supporters in Kelantan.
“DAP wants to move on. We look forward to working with Muslim democrats, that is, Islamists who are committed to propagating the values of Islam such as social justice, good governance and human rights.
“Islam has the potential to be a great political force for reform and change. We respect and wish to work hand in hand with those who are committed to such a worldview. No use dwelling on the past,” Zairil added, tongue-in-cheek.