Star Online today reported that the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong), along with Chinese Assembly Halls from 13 states, issued a statement urging MPs from across the political divide to vote against the Bill if it is debated in October.
Hua Zong said Malaysia was a multiracial and multi-religious country. If PAS succeeded in getting the Bill passed, it would have long-term ramifications on Malaysia’s legal system.
“It is worrisome that the hudud amendment Private Member’s Bill could be passed in Parliament via a simple majority come October,” the statement said, urging MPs to oppose it to prevent Malaysia moving towards “a path of no return”.
They felt that it was the fight to gain political mileage that had allowed PAS to successfully table and almost debate the Bill on Thursday.
“Formerly, everyone assumed that the hudud amendment Bill hardly had any chance of being debated in Parliament.”
The statement said everyone was shocked when Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said raised a motion to expedite the Bill.
However, PAS President Hadi Awang, who proposed the Bill, decided that debates on it continue at the next parliamentary sitting in October. He later explained this was to give time for MPs to properly prepare to debate on it.
“It is worrisome that the hudud amendment Private Member’s Bill could be passed in Parliament via a simple majority come October,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, MCA Youth Chief Chong Sin Woon said the party will have to review its working model within BN if Umno persists in giving help to PAS.
PAS would not have successfully tabled the Private Member’s Bill if it had not received “technical assistance” from Umno, he added.
“We strongly oppose such irresponsible behaviour. Such actions have marred the spirit of alliance in Barisan Nasional,” he said in a statement.
Chong said MCA would not compromise on matters that could tear apart the harmony among races and religions, Star Online stated.
Party Vice-President Chew Mei Fun criticised Azalina for arbitrarily expediting the Bill. “Her actions have violated the spirit of BN. She owes other component parties an explanation,” Chew posted on Facebook.
MCA Central Committee member Koh Chin Han said Azalina’s actions contradicted her earlier statement that Bills tabled by the “government shall take precedence over other matters”.
He said such arbitrary actions lacked accountability, were irresponsible and went against the core principles of BN.
“As we’ve continuously reiterated, MCA will not support any Bill that grants powers to implement hudud in the country.”
MCA Shariah Laws and Policy Implementation Task Force Chairman Gan Ping Siew rapped Umno’s collaboration with PAS.
“Umno is playing a dangerous political game by embarking on the perilous course of allowing Hadi Awang to implement the proposed unconstitutional Islamic criminal laws,” he said in a statement.
“It is a blatant breach of the BN decision-making process to bypass the BN Supreme Council in a matter of such fundamental magnitude.”
MCA Publicity Bureau Chairman Chai Kim Sen said PAS was now a step closer towards hudud implementation.
He blamed DAP and held it accountable for urging voters to cast their ballots for PAS in the last two general elections.