The presentation of the  Terengganu  Syariah Criminal Enactment Bill will destroy the credibility of the 1999 BA common manifesto


Media Conference Statement (2)
- when launching the second phase of the  “No to 911, No to 929, Yes to 1957” People’s Awareness Campaign in Bukit Mertajam 

by
Lim Kit Siang

(Penang,  Sunday): The Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) youth leader, Faisal Sanusi yesterday urged Barisan Alternative component parties to return to the 1999 Joint Manifesto saying it is very difficult to work without a common base. 

DAP left the Barisan Alternative last September when we could not resolve our differences with PAS leaders over their repeated violation of the 1999 Barisan Alternative Common Manifesto on the issue of Islamic State. 

The 1999 Barisan Alternative Common Manifesto “Towards A Just Malaysia” will be destroyed and lose all credibility if the Terengganu PAS State government insists on presenting its Syariah Criminal Bill (Hudud and Qisas) to the Terengganu State Assembly this morning – despite overwhelming objections including calls by the DAP for the withdrawal of the Bill, as it is clearly against the Federal Constitution, violates human rights, discriminates against women and destroys the 1999 Barisan Alternative Common Manifesto.

Nobody in PAS, whether at the national or state level, disputes that Terengganu Syariah Criminal Bill (Hudud and Qisas)  violates the Federal Constitution and the rule of law, especially its provisions of amputation of limbs for theft, 80 lashes for a woman who reports  but unable to prove that she had been raped, stoning to death for adultery and  death for apostasy, contravening the constitutional limits of “3-5-6” restricting  state syariah laws from  imposing sentences exceeding three years’ jail, RM5,000 fine or six strokes of the rotan. 

The presentation of such a  Bill will only highlight the larger issue as to whether the PAS’ concept of Islamic state and hudud law  is compatible with democracy, power-sharing in a plural society, human rights, women rights, social tolerance, development and modernity.

There can be no return to the 1999 Barisan Alternative Common Manifesto unless the Terengganu Syariah Criminal Bill (Hudud and Qisas) is withdrawn if it is tabled in the Terengganu State Assembly this morning.

(7/7/2002)


*Lim Kit Siang - DAP National Chairman