Press Statement 
by MP for Seputeh and DAP Women National Secretary, Teresa Kok 
in Kuala Lumpur 
on 9^th July 2002

DAP Women disappointed with PAS for disregarding the objections of civil society to the Hudud Bill

DAP Women is greatly disappointed with PAS for passing the Hudud Bill in the Terengganu State Assembly yesterday, disregarding objections from women groups and civil society.

The enactment, which introduces Quranic punishments such as amputation of limbs, death by stoning, whipping and jail, is clearly against our present modern age and the spirit of love and forgiveness advocated by all religions, including Islam.

The punishments included in the Syariah Criminal Offences (Hudud and Qisas) Enactment are not only unconstitutional, but have also caused many non-Muslims to be fearful of Islam and PAS.

I urge the Mentri Besar of Terengganu Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to explain whether this law will finally apply to all non-Muslims in the state as was reported in The Star today, as the imposition of such law on non-Muslims clearly contravenes the statements made by PAS in the past, vis a vis the Hudud Bill will only apply to Muslims.

It is time for PAS to evaluate its political strategy, as to whether the implementation of Hudud law in the state will help to strengthen the Opposition in the country. The fear of the non-Muslim community towards PAS today will not only jeopardise the struggle for human rights and democracy by Opposition parties, but also undermine the efforts made by all Opposition parties in bringing about racial and religious harmony in the country.