Penang Gerakan chief Teng Chang Yeow has ticked off an Umno leader for warning his party to stop insulting hudud until the its members can fully appreciate the Islamic penal code.

Teng said no one is insulting Islam but the party has stated that it does not agree with PAS’s proposal to table a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament next month so that the party can implement the law in Kelantan.

“Reezal is a lawmaker, an MP. He should know that rejecting hudud or the Private Member’s Bill is not insulting Islam,” the state BN chief told Malaysiakini .

“If we scold you, Reezal, it does not mean we are scolding your parents as well,” Teng added.

“We are rejecting it because we can’t have two legal systems in the country, and that tabling the Bill is unconstitutional,” Teng added.

Teng said if forced through, the hudud law will create a split in BN and Pakatan Rakyat, adding that the law would also create a divide in the country’s multi-racial set up.

Teng said Reezal, being the former political secretary of ex-prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, should be more “moderate” like him.

He was upset with Reezal ( right ) for saying yesterday that Gerakan should refrain from “insensitive comments” and to give way to experts as the discussion on hudud is now in a new phase, under a federal-backed joint task force to look into the implementation of hudud in Kelantan.

“Don’t overstep or take lightly the boundaries on giving comments on hudud, which at the same time can be insulting to Islam,” said the Kepala Batas MP.

He also warned that the road ahead would be difficult if this cannot be understood by a BN component party.

Reezal was particularly irked by the recent comment by Gerakan women’s wing leader Tan Lian Hoe that hudud “defends rapists”.

‘Study and understand Dr Mahathir’s comment’

Teng urged Reezal to study and understand former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad’s comment that the country is not prepared for hudud.

“I also urge all BN and Muslim MPs to look into, study and think about what Mahathir said, and to listen to his advice,” Teng added.

Mahathir had recently said that he sees the use of religion to gain political mileage in the hudud issue.

The former premier said religious laws should be used to administer the Muslims, but it was regrettable when used to win votes.

However, he does not believe the PAS hudud issue would split the BN even though MCA and Gerakan oppose the implementation of the law in Kelantan.