MCA is outraged by PAS Kelantan's intention to table a motion in Parliament to implement hudud in the state, blaming the matter squarely on the former's arch-rival DAP.

MCA's publicity bureau chief Chai Kim Sen in a statement today demanded that all 38 DAP MPs now "stand up and be accountable for this" claiming it was the party's influence that drove many voters to its Pakatan Rakyat partner during the last general elections.

"During the 13th general election, DAP had fought to defend PAS by claiming that they have become more liberal and that they will respect the rights of non-Muslims.

"This has then caused many non-Muslim voters, who were initially wary of PAS, to throw their support towards a supposedly 'brand new version' of PAS," Chai said.

Chai was responding to news reports that Kelantan is drafting a private bill to be submitted to Parliament soon for hudud laws to be implemented in Kelantan latest by January 2015.

Sinar Harian quoted Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob (below, right) saying that he will table the Bill in Parliament seeking amendments to widen the powers of the Syariah Court.

Ahmad added that Islamic affairs minister in Prime Minister's department Jamil Khir Baharom was also open to the suggestion, but asked that it pass through Parliament first.

The move has the backing of the Kelantan state executive committee, Sinar reported.

"MCA has repeatedly warned the people that if PAS tables a bill to allow for hudud law, there will be no opposition from Umno MPs towards their bill.

"This has happened once before in Terengganu when PAS became the state government, and now I am afraid that the same will happen again," Chai said.

He added that hudud law is proof that PAS is an unchangingly conservative party that "disregards Malaysia’s multi-religious population, and are willing to trample on the rights of non-Muslims."

'Move unconstitutional'

MCA's Youth legal bureau chairperson Choo Wei Sern also slammed Kelantan’s move which he said clashed with Malaysia's constitution.

"To subject Muslims to different evidential rules and different degree of punishment, in contrast to non-Muslims, is thus unconstitutional," Choo said in a statement.

Choo warned that if Kelantan gets the go ahead for hudud, this would spell an end to "secular" Malaysia and usher in the start of an Islamic theocratic country.

However, the move has as expected received the thumbs up of Islamic NGO Ikatan Musliman Malaysia (Isma).

Isma's president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman cheered PAS on to fulfill its goals since Putrajaya also appears to have softened its stance to block the move.

He used a political term popularly coined by Pakatan Rakyat to express his joy.

"I dub this move the 'Kelantan move'. Just like the 'Kajang move' to Putrajaya, the 'Kelantan move' will bring about the implementation of Syariah laws in the whole of Malaysia," Abdullah said.

Abdullah added that PAS should not and will not be alone in its hudud ambitions, and in his statement, ran off on the many benefits of having Islamic laws.