(Penang, Sunday): The Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) youth leader, Faisal Sanusi
yesterday urged Barisan Alternative component parties to return to the 1999
Joint Manifesto saying it is very difficult to work without a common base.
DAP left the Barisan Alternative last September when we
could not resolve our differences with PAS leaders over their repeated violation
of the 1999 Barisan Alternative Common Manifesto on the issue of Islamic State.
The 1999 Barisan Alternative Common Manifesto “Towards A Just Malaysia” will be destroyed and lose all credibility if the Terengganu PAS State government insists on presenting its Syariah Criminal Bill (Hudud and Qisas) to the Terengganu State Assembly this morning – despite overwhelming objections including calls by the DAP for the withdrawal of the Bill, as it is clearly against the Federal Constitution, violates human rights, discriminates against women and destroys the 1999 Barisan Alternative Common Manifesto.
Nobody in PAS, whether at the national or state level, disputes that Terengganu Syariah Criminal Bill (Hudud and Qisas) violates the Federal Constitution and the rule of law, especially its provisions of amputation of limbs for theft, 80 lashes for a woman who reports but unable to prove that she had been raped, stoning to death for adultery and death for apostasy, contravening the constitutional limits of “3-5-6” restricting state syariah laws from imposing sentences exceeding three years’ jail, RM5,000 fine or six strokes of the rotan.
The presentation of such a Bill will only highlight the larger issue as to whether the PAS’ concept of Islamic state and hudud law is compatible with democracy, power-sharing in a plural society, human rights, women rights, social tolerance, development and modernity.
There can be no return to the 1999 Barisan Alternative Common Manifesto unless the Terengganu Syariah Criminal Bill (Hudud and Qisas) is withdrawn if it is tabled in the Terengganu State Assembly this morning.
(7/7/2002)