CHEAP LOW BLOW FROM HADI CAMP: DAP THE REASON FOR NEAR ZERO TURNOUT OF NON-MUSLIMS TO HUDUD RALLY – NASRUDIN TANTAWI

PETALING JAYA – The huge turnout at the Act 355 Rally was a good sign of public support to PAS initiative to amend the Syariah laws and introduce severe penalties said its information chief Nasrudin Hassan.

Nasrudin Hassan said with this turnout the party hoped to push through the changes to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 at the next parliamentary meeting.

“The government and all members of Parliament must evaluate and see the signals given out by the people through Saturday rally,” he said when contacted by theSun today.

The Act 355 Rally, which managed to draw at least 60,000 participants, was staged by the Islamist party to rally support for the changes proposed by Marang MP and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

The amendment since its tabling in Parliament last year had drawn various criticism from politicians and human rights groups, with many calling it as a backdoor attempt by PAS to implement hudud law in Kelantan.

Nasrudin also said the big rally turnout was an indicator of PAS’ strength in the Malaysian political arena.

On the low non-Muslims turnout in the rally, Nasrudin said propaganda from the opposing parties, especially DAP, had somehow managed to influence the group to develop fear towards the amendment.

“The non-Muslims need to be given understanding on this issue. We accept it as a challenge and will find ways to deal with it,” he said.

Meanwhile, constitutional law expert Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi said the large turnout at the rally showed that the changes had support but it did not mean the support would translate into an electoral victory for the party in the next general election.

“Electoral dynamics are complex and are not influenced by a simple, single issue as this rally was,” he said when contacted.

He pointed out that some of the speeches delivered in the rally were improper and were made with an intention to ridicule those who had differing views to the amendment.

“They sought to belittle those who oppose the amendment by maliciously painting them as a ‘not good Muslims’. To belittle is to be little.

“We should develop a more rational, moderate and democratic culture. We should combat a disagreeable argument with reason and logic and not by throwing naive, false labels around,” he said.

He also said that many of the non-Muslims held genuine worries to the amendment, especially on the enhancement of criminal powers to state authorities.

“We would rather that all crimes including hudud offences be tried by a uniform central federal authority,” he added.

– Sundaily