Hadi, Guan Eng grilled over hudud

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng found themselves in an awkward position in Kuala Terengganu today when they were grilled by reporters over the hudud controversy.

Initially, the press conference began with all top three Pakatan Rakyat leaders, including PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, pledging to work together to ensure victory for PAS candidate Abdul Wahid Endut in the Jan 17 Kuala Terengganu by-election.

All three leaders appeared jovial during their opening speeches but the atmosphere changed as soon as they began to field questions.

Hadi said that hudud laws were not an issue in this by-election because it had already been gazetted in Terengganu when PAS held power between 1999 to 2004.

"It only applies for Muslims while non-Muslims can decide for themselves. Misunderstanding (on this issue) between Pakatan Rakyat (parties) does not arise.

"It is only Umno that is causing problems," he added.

Lim: DAP's consent needed

Lim then replied that DAP respects the opinion of its coalition partners but Pakatan Rakyat cannot make decisions as a federal government unilaterally.

"If any problems occur, we will resolve it through musyawarah, that is through discussions. All three parties must hold discussions and if a consensus is not reached, it must be discussed again.

"This means, should PKR and PAS agree to implement hudud and DAP disagrees then it cannot be implemented. Everything must be discussed until all three parties agree," he said.

Lim went on along the same vein for about five minutes while Hadi was noticeably uncomfortable forcing Terengganu PAS chief Mustafa Ali intervened.

Mustafa told reporters that hudud was not an issue in the Kuala Terengganu by-election as the results would not have any impact on the state or federal government.

After the press conference, a symbolic 'handing over' ceremony of a giant two-metre tall television belonging to DAP was held. DAP has loaned the gigantic lorry-mounted television to PAS for the campaign period.

The giant television first appeared during the March 2008 general election and had made another appearance during the Permatang Pauh by-election in August 2008.