Subra joins chorus of opposition to hudud
THE STAR
SUBANG JAYA: MIC president Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam said he will give up his ministerial position if hudud is implemented.
He said this at the party's emergency general meeting at One City Mall here Sunday.
His stand, made while winding up the meeting, was met with applause from delegates.
Subramaniam is the fourth Barisan Nasional component party leader to make his stand against the syariah Bill that was introduced in a Private Members Bill by PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday.
MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong and PBRS president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup had voiced out their opposition to the implementation of hudud in the country.
At a press conference after the EGM, Subramaniam said as a first step, the party will meet the Prime Minister to communicate MIC's stand against hudud.
But he said if this fails and if hudud is eventually implemented, he will have no choice but to step down.
"MIC wants to make a strong stand and as a leader I will have to follow," he said.
He said the decision was made by the party's central committee and reaffirmed by delegates during the EGM.
Though Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak reportedly said the Bill will have nothing to do with hudud, Liow had pointed out that if it were to be passed, the scope would be "wide-enough" to give PAS in Kelantan the power to exact hudud punishment.
The Kelantan state can then implement any punishment it deems appropriate short of the death penalty, which includes stoning and the chopping off of hands, he said.
