PAS: Once bitten, twice shy
PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat revealed last night that the state government had at one point decided against implementing Islamic hudud laws out of fear that the BN-led federal government would declare an emergency and take over the state as it did in 1977.
Nik Aziz says hudud is being held back to avoid a recurrence of 1977's federal government takeover of Kelantan. [VIDEO INSIDE]
PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat revealed last night that the state government had at one point decided against implementing Islamic hudud laws out of fear that the BN-led federal government would declare an emergency and take over the state as it did in 1977.
If this happened, Nik Aziz (centre in photo) said the PAS-led government would have been prevented from introducing other Islamic policies.
When faced with such dangers, Nik Aziz explained, Islam teaches its adherents to do the best they could, including by introducing ‘lesser’ practices.
Although he did not detail when exactly the PAS state government was faced with the situation, Nik Aziz said it was during the time of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whom he alleged had “threatened us against implementing it (hudud).
“The exco decided that as Kelantan had in the past faced emergency rule through Mageran (National Action Council), we do not want another repeat of the incident. Hence, we decided to introduce Islamic law slowly so it would gain acceptance by all.
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If because of the hudud issue... Kelantan allowed itself to be ‘attacked’ by the federal government... this would have been an ill move,” the veteran PAS leader said in a dialogue with bloggers in Kuala Lumpur last night.
In 1973, PAS became a partner of Umno when it entered BN (then-called the Alliance).
Relations between state PAS leaders and the BN-led federal government deteriorated, however, to a such a low that in 1977 federal appointee Mohamed Nasir was removed as Kelantan menteri besar that year by his party.
Following the crisis within the state over Nasir’s subsequent dissolution of the Kelantan legislative assembly, the federal government imposed emergency rule in Kelantan - and the state was henceforth ruled by the BN until PAS rule was returned by voters 12 years later in 1990.
Slow and steady
Nik Aziz said propagating Islam must be done with wisdom.
In this respect, if Kelantan PAS had introduced hudud, it would have lost the opportunity to govern and educate the public on Islam.
By slowly and gradually introducing Islamic reforms on the other hand, even non-Muslims who had initially been sceptical have come to accept PAS rule, and this has helped Kelantan to withstand pressure from the BN since PAS took over in 1990, said Nik Aziz.
What is important is gaining the people’s trust, he added.
Nik Aziz also said PAS had succeeded in breaking the equation between being Malay and adhering to Islam.
Citing the Rantau Panjang mosque as an example of Chinese influence on an Islamic house of worship, Nik Aziz said the state government had show that Islam was not only for Malays.
He also poked fun at the association of Islam with circumcision, that had served as a deterrent for many in the Chinese community towards embracing the religion.
“In the past, the Chinese think one of the barriers to their embracing Islam is their having to cut 'it'. But that has all changed,” Nik Aziz quipped.
Gaining trust
Acceptance of by non-Muslims of PAS in Kelantan and elsewhere has led to the party gaining a foothold in many areas and the trust of the people.
“Recently, during the Chinese lantern festival a young Chinese boy came to me and presented a green lantern and not a red lantern. I am happy with the gift and hung it in front of my house,” he said.
He also praised the openness within PAS’ partner in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition DAP, to learning more about Islam.
“Umno has never approached me to teach them in reading the Quran and neither have the MCA.
"But you have one Chinese DAP elected representative calling me late at night wanting me to teach the Quran,” said Nik Aziz in reference to Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming.
“This has never happened before and this shows that what Kelantan PAS is doing is right,” he said.
He was referring to the brief lessons he gave to Nga in 2009 on the proper pronunciation of certain verses of the Quran.
Nik Aziz had also defended Nga when the latter was criticised by Umno and some Muslim organisations over his recitation of the Quran.
Following Nik Aziz’s speech, Kelantan's exco for local council, culture and tourism Takiyuddin Hassan also revealed in the dialogue that hudud law was passed in the state with the support of two former BN assemblypersons and was assented to then sultan Ismail Petra.
“The law is still there, but it is not implemented wholly,” said Takiyuddin.
