Monday, 21 July 2014

Sarawak DAP rebuked for not checking facts first

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, July 21, 2014: Sarawak DAP has been rebuked for not checking facts first before accusing Sarawak PKR of being quiet on the hudud law issue.

 Picture: Baru (centre) puzzled by Sarawak DAP's accusation, says he has issued two statements against the implementation of hudud law

Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian said today that he had issued two statements against the implementation of hudud law in the country, "if the Sarawak DAP leaders care to read".

"In order to refresh their memories, I wish to invite them to read my statements “Sarawak under no obligation to follow PM on Hudud Law” on April  30, l 2014 and “Sarawak agreed to the formation of a Secular Malaysia,” on June 18, 2014, which were published in the local papers and shared widely on social media.

"Our stand could not be clearer or any more unequivocal, if they would care to read the reports. We have never faltered from holding firm to the guarantees of the Sarawak Constitution and the terms of the Malaysia Agreement," an upset Baru rebuked Sarawak DAP.

He added:" I must say that I am rather puzzled that Sarawak DAP has taken this independent step when the national DAP has not given any indication of their position regarding the hudud move.

Picture: Chong says Sarawak DAP will pull out of Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat

"Perhaps there are internal factors and extraneous considerations at play here but far be it from me to speculate on such matters.

"Suffice to say that I am deeply disappointed that Sarawak DAP should take such a drastic step at this time when the State Election is imminent," Baru, who is also the State Assemblyman for Ba'Kelalan, said.

He said he is surprised and shocked that the Sarawak DAP has seen fit to issue an ultimatum to Pakatan Rakyat's  common partner Sarawak PAS over their stand on hudud without prior consultation with Sarawak PAS and Sarawak PKR.

Yesterday, Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen accused Sarawak PKR of being quiet on the hudud law issue.
“Sarawak DAP regrets the silence and non-committal of PKR, and that until the demands of Sarawak DAP are met, we shall withdraw from Pakatan Rakyat and refrain from all activities hosted by Pakatan Rakyat and PAS," Chong said after chairing the Sarawak DAP state committee meeting in Sibu.
He also threatened to pull Sarawak DAP out of the State Pakatan Rakyat if PAS failed to make clear its plan for hudud law implementation in Sarawak.

He said that Sarawak DAP also resolved to stop attending all activities hosted by Pakatan Rakyat and PAS with immediate effect until PAS Malaysia reverts to the common policies of Pakatan Rakyat’s manifesto in the last general election and for PAS not to pursue the implementation of hudud law in Sarawak.

He  said: “We mean business. There is no compromise on this religious issue. We shall not even go to the negotiation table with them to talk about seat allocations for the coming state election until the two conditions are met.”
He reiterated that PAS Kelatan had met with the Prime Minister’s Department last Thursday to discuss about the implementation of hudud law in Kelantan.

Chong said the hudud law implementation had become a grave concern after the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) studied the legality to bypass parliament in order to implement the Islamic law.

He said the department concluded they could do so, and that a two-thirds majority from parliament was not needed to pass the law.



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