Kuala Lumpur, September 23: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday backed Pas’ intention to implement hudud in Kelantan.
He said that, in principle, the Islamic law could be implemented.
“Looking at specific areas, there is clear guarantee of an administration of justice and it does not, in any way, infringe on the rights of non-Muslims,” he said when met outside the Kuala Lumpur High Court in Jalan Duta.
The de facto PKR leader, however, said he was giving his views in his personal capacity and not on behalf of the opposition grouping, which includes Pas and DAP.
Anwar said Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat had in the past suggested that several aspects of hudud be implemented but it was objected to by the Federal Government, then led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Nik Aziz, who is Pas’ spiritual leader, had on Wednesday said the party was ready to have talks with its partners in the opposition on the idea of an Islamic state and that his state government had laid out the foundation for hudud to be carried out.
In an immediate reaction, DAP chairman Karpal Singh questioned why the issue was being brought up again and argued that implementing hudud was unconstitutional.
Yesterday, Nik Aziz said he would not back down from the objective of setting up an Islamic state as it had been the pillar of Pas’ struggle since the party’s inception in 1951.
He said DAP could choose to leave the opposition grouping if it objected to Pas’ plan to set up an Islamic state.
He said Pas had the experience of parting ways with DAP, which quit a pact of several opposition parties in the 1990s over the same issue.
“DAP once pulled out from cooperating but it was all right and (we said) bye-bye,” he said after addressing religious school students who participated in a course on nationhood at Pas’ training centre in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan.
Nik Aziz, a menteri besar for 21 years, said those who opposed the setting up of an Islamic state should create their own world as the earth they inhabited belonged to Allah.
“As long as we live on Allah’s earth, breathe His air and use (the benefits from) the sun, Allah’s official religion is Islam.
“The establishment of an Islamic state in the country is compulsory as the earth belongs to Allah.” Kedah Pas commissioner Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said in Alor Star yesterday that Kedah Pas was not ready to introduce a total Islamic administration.
The menteri besar said it was imperative for him to remain sensitive to the views of members of his Pasled state government on all matters.
“Unlike Kelantan Pas, Kedah Pas won the state seats with smaller majorities and had to share with PKR and DAP to form the state government after the 2008 general election.
“So, it is unfair to compare Kedah Pas with Kelantan Pas, which has ruled Kelantan for over 20 years.”