KUALA LUMPUR: The DAP has slammed PAS Kelantan for tabling the controversial amendments to its Syariah Criminal Code II, saying it was an effort to break up Pakatan Rakyat.
"DAP strongly protests PAS Kelantan's actions of presenting the Syriah Criminal Enactment II (1993) 2015 in the Kelantan state assembly.
"It is a decision that goes against the Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council decision on March 12, 2015 and is an act of provocation to break up Pakatan Rakyat," DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke (pic) said in a statement released on Wednesday.
He accused "certain parties within PAS" of providing opportunities for Umno to divert attention from alleged current scandals.
These "enemies from within" were accused of putting aside coalition consensus to comply with Umno's wishes, claimed Loke.
The move by PAS Kelantan was in contravention of Pakatan Rakyat's common policy dramework and a betrayal of the leadership council's consensus, said Loke, who is also Seremban MP.
He said that DAP has remained consistent that the implementation of the Syariah Criminal Enactment or hudud was contrary to the Federal Constitution and not appropriate within the context of Malaysia's plural society.
He emphasised that the implementation of hudud is not and would never be a common Pakatan agenda since DAP allied with PAS and PKR in the 2008 Pakatan coalition framework, said Loke.
Loke added that the DAP central leadership council would hold a meeting on Monday to decide on the party's direction in the wake of the "backstabbing" by PAS Kelantan.
Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yaakob tabled amendments to the Syariah Criminal Code II 1993 at the Kelantan Legaslative Assembly on Wednesday morning.
The enactment existed in the state before the Opposition pact was formed.
The proposed amendments included the exclusion of non-muslims from the Islamic criminal charges charges, and also other changes concerning sexual crimes.
Previously, the law gave non-Muslims an option to choose hudud or to be tried under conventional laws.
PKR and DAP leaders had disagreed with the amendments when they were presented at a special briefing by PAS last Thursday.
PAS' Pakatan allies urged the party to reconsider the proposed amendments, but the bill was still tabled.
The amendments are seen by some as a means to pave the way for PAS to implement hudud in Kelantan.
However, for the law to be enforceable in Kelantan, the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 and Article 76A(1) of the Federal Constitution has to be amended.
