DAP flays hudud with PAS top guns absent
Nigel AwPublished: Dec 14, 2014 3:13 AM | Updated: Dec 14, 2014 5:46 AM
DAP today opened its annual national conference with guns trained at attempts to impose theocratic law in the country, in the absence of PAS' top leadership at the function.
DAP today opened its annual national conference with guns trained at attempts to impose theocratic law in the country, in the absence of PAS' top leadership at the function.
"Recently, more quarters are trying to introduce laws based on religion, this should not happen in a country of various races and faiths," said acting DAP chairperson Tan Kok Wai in his opening speech in Subang Jaya.
Tan did not specify hudud or PAS, but appeared to be referring to them as he took pains to reiterate that Malaysia was a secular state.
PAS bigwigs were conspicuously absent, only sending its central committee member Hatta Ramli (right) as representative to the convention.
In contrast, PKR dispatched its topmost leadership, president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and deputy president and Selangor menteri besar Azmin Ali, to attend.
Hatta, when met by journalists, said the PAS leadership was engaged in a meeting today.
"Today is the PAS central committee meeting, in fact I should not even be here but I respect DAP and PAS sent me to represent the whole PAS committee and one million PAS members," he said.
DAP's view respected
Asked about Tan's apparent criticism of hudud, Hatta declined to comment.
"That is DAP's stance, I do not want to comment, no comment from me.
"Perhaps you can ask during PAS' meeting but this is DAP's meeting so we respect DAP's view," he told journalists.
Earlier in his speech, Tan said those opposed to racial and religious diversity threatened the foundation of the nation.
Tan cited the recent joint statement by 25 eminent Malays comprising former top civil servants, ambassadors and judges expressing concern about extremism in the country.
"I believe the concern of the 25 former Malay top officers is shared by the majority of Malaysians regardless of race, as they are aware of the adverse consequences of politicising religion in the country," he said.
"The destruction of Pakatan means the destruction of the dreams of Malaysians.
"It would be the destruction of any hope to see a new form of governance which is much better," he said.
"Recently, more quarters are trying to introduce laws based on religion, this should not happen in a country of various races and faiths," said acting DAP chairperson Tan Kok Wai in his opening speech in Subang Jaya.
Tan did not specify hudud or PAS, but appeared to be referring to them as he took pains to reiterate that Malaysia was a secular state.
PAS bigwigs were conspicuously absent, only sending its central committee member Hatta Ramli (right) as representative to the convention.In contrast, PKR dispatched its topmost leadership, president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and deputy president and Selangor menteri besar Azmin Ali, to attend.
Hatta, when met by journalists, said the PAS leadership was engaged in a meeting today.
"Today is the PAS central committee meeting, in fact I should not even be here but I respect DAP and PAS sent me to represent the whole PAS committee and one million PAS members," he said.
DAP's view respected
Asked about Tan's apparent criticism of hudud, Hatta declined to comment.
"That is DAP's stance, I do not want to comment, no comment from me.
"Perhaps you can ask during PAS' meeting but this is DAP's meeting so we respect DAP's view," he told journalists.
Earlier in his speech, Tan said those opposed to racial and religious diversity threatened the foundation of the nation.
Tan cited the recent joint statement by 25 eminent Malays comprising former top civil servants, ambassadors and judges expressing concern about extremism in the country.
"I believe the concern of the 25 former Malay top officers is shared by the majority of Malaysians regardless of race, as they are aware of the adverse consequences of politicising religion in the country," he said.
"The destruction of Pakatan means the destruction of the dreams of Malaysians.
"It would be the destruction of any hope to see a new form of governance which is much better," he said.
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