The signs seem to be getting clearer that the faction of progressives in PAS will be wiped out at the party’s 61st muktamar which formally opened today.

One clear sign this afternoon was when PAS central committee member Mohamed Hanipa Maidin, a “professional” in the party, was jeered and booed when he defended himself on his stance on hudud.

Hanipa got the jeers when explaining that he was all for the Islamic penal code being implemented in Kelantan.

He was then reminded by muktamar deputy permanent chairperson Hussin Ismail to focus on a question posed by a delegate - on why Hanipa’s statements on hudud seemed to contradict with that of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang ( photo ).

This resulted in the audience taking the opportunity to boo Hanipa loudly.

On this, Hanipa said: “This is the education that we have produced - all these booing”.

This in turn led to louder jeers from the audience.

Hussin then reminded both Hanipa and the delegates to contain themselves.

“It’s okay. I am used to all these things in Parliament. Noh Omar (Tanjong Karang MP) and Baling MP (Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim) act like this.

“It’s okay, I love you all,” Hanipa quipped.

 

Provide proof, says Hanipa

Hanipa had earlier asked the delegate who had questioned him to prove that he had been contradicting Hadi on the hudud issue.

“Because you have made the allegations, you have to provide proof.

“I still believe that Kelantan’s hudud plans are not in conflict with the constitution, and this has been my position from the start.

“And I have defended this in forums as PAS’ representative against hostile panels and audience members who are against hudud,” he said.

Nevertheless, Hanipa said before hudud is implemented, PAS must first study laws that will prevent the party’s hudud dreams from being realised.

“With Act 355 (Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965), we may have problems implementing hudud,” he pointed out.

Hanipa also questioned why he, as a PAS central committee member, did not get to view PAS’ private member’s bill on hudud before it was brought to Parliament.

“Even as PAS MPs, we did not know anything about it.

“As PAS’ legal bureau chairperson, I was not able to say whether the bill is good or otherwise,” he said, pointing out that there were weaknesses in the bill.

'PAS not like BN'

Hanipa said there should not be problems if party members have differing views from the president.

“Do we want to be like Barisan Nasional? (Umno vice-president and federal minister) Shafie Apdal was asked to resign for asking questions.

“Differing views do not mean we do not have respect (for the leader). We just want to show that we practice democracy.

“Why must we panic when there are reprimands?” he said, pointing out that even the Prophet Muhammad had received advice from women.

PAS’ plans to implement hudud in Kelantan have been one of the reasons why its ties with ally DAP continue to sour.

Hanipa ( photo ) is part of the progressive faction in PAS, which is expected to be hobbled in the muktamar elections.

Both the party’s youth and muslimat wings have already witnessed the ulama faction winning top posts in yesterday’s elections.