KUALA LUMPUR - DAP chairman Karpal Singh issued a strongly-worded statement yesterday to show his displeasure with Pas Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi, who had called him a non-believer for rejecting hudud.
"I must warn this political upstart to mind his language. No one, no party (and) no organisation can claim to have monopoly of God," Karpal said.
"I must state... that I believe in God. There is only one God and all religions reflect that."
On Sunday, Nasrudin said those who rejected Allah's laws would be considered kufur (non-believer).
"Karpal is consistent in rejecting hudud because he is a non-believer. Pas must continue with its struggle to uphold Islam," he said in a tweet.
Hudud is a term used in syariah to describe the class of punishment for crimes such as theft, fornication and adultery, consumption of alcohol and other intoxicants and apostasy.
Not in Common Policy Framework
Karpal, who has been consistent in his objection to the implementation of hudud in Malaysia, said hudud was not part of Pakatan Rakyat's common policy framework and that it would not be included in its common manifesto.
The DAP stalwart also said contrary to Nasrudin's recent statements, Pas had abandoned its avowed aim of setting up an Islamic state during its 57th muktamar in June last year.
"Pas president (Datuk Seri) Abdul Hadi Awang publicly stated that there was no mention of an Islamic state in the Quran but it did mention a welfare state.
"Therefore, any attempt by Pas to espouse the introduction of hudud reflects badly on the bona fides of what was decided at the muktamar," said Karpal, who is also Bukit Gelugor member of parliament.
Last week, Pas syura council member Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed said having Islamic laws and setting up an Islamic state were still high on Pas' agenda.
Contradictory
Karpal warned that Pas' contradictory statements on hudud would jeopardise Pakatan's chances of winning the general election.
"I call upon Pas to stop supplying cannon fodder to BN (as) it is counter-productive and politically naive."
Meanwhile, the Klang DAP parliamentary liaison committee said yesterday that no party in Pakatan should impose its brand of Islamic law on a multiracial society.
Organising secretary K. Yoga Sigamany said in Shah Alam that the grassroots were also concerned with other controversial issues in Selangor because of Pas' influence.
These included the Kuala Selangor District Council's proposal to segregate unmarried Muslim couples in cinemas, confiscation of beer and liquor from a 24-hour store by the Shah Alam City Council and the stand by Bangi assemblyman Dr Shafie Abu Bakar of Pas that cinemas should not be built in his constituency.
Committee chairman Ivan Ho agreed, saying that there should not be two sets of laws in the country.
"The country is governed by secular civil law as provided under the Federal Constitution. Hudud has no place in a multiracial society."
On Sunday, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek had branded DAP leaders as "modern-day political eunuchs" for lacking the guts to defy Pas over the implementation of hudud.
In recent weeks, Pas leaders had said the setting up of an Islamic state and enforcing hudud were the party's religious obligations and, therefore, non-negotiable.
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