| PAS denies reports that it may impose Islamic laws |  |  |  |
| Posted by Raja Petra | |
| Wednesday, 12 March 2008 | |
| By Hazlin Hassan, THE STRAITS TIMES THE Islamist Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) yesterday sought to dispel fears that it would try to impose strict Islamic laws in states where it is a dominant partner in an opposition coalition following weekend elections. PAS was responding to reports that it may be pushing for regulations similar to those implemented in Kelantan, the state it has ruled for 18 years. An informal alliance of opposition parties comprising PAS, the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), seized control of four states - Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor - in the elections on Saturday. Bernama news agency has already quoted party president Hadi Awang as saying that PAS planned to implement hudud (Islamic) criminal law in Kedah. The Star daily also reported that hotels and entertainment outlets in Kedah were already making changes. 'Beer will still be sold. We just don't want to make it obvious,' said an executive at a hotel where alcohol was moved to a more discreet location. 'We do not think skirts will be suitable any more,' said an official at another hotel which is reviewing its employees' dress code. However, the newly-sworn in Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak denied that PAS would implement hudud in the state. 'I totally reject the possibility of implementing hudud in Kedah,' he told the Chinese-language Sin Chew Daily. When quizzed about Datuk Seri Hadi's statement, PAS vice-president Husam Musa said: 'I would think (reporters) grilled him and put words into his mouth.' He said that changing social policies was not the party's top priority. 'We will not implement any major changes on social policies,' he told a news conference, adding that entertainment outlets and sale of liquor would remain. PAS secretary-general Kamaruddin Jaafar said the party would be sensitive to the feelings of minority Chinese and Indians, who left the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in droves in Saturday's polls. 'We are not going to let down any racial groups,' he said. 'We want to repay their support with policies that benefit all.' PAS had closed down nightclubs, pool halls and cinemas, and severely restricted the sale of alcohol when it took over Kelantan state from BN. When PAS briefly controlled Terengganu state from 1999 to 2004, it also tried to push its agenda for an Islamic state more aggressively, but was soundly rejected in the 2004 polls and lost the state. It lost in Terengganu again on Saturday. |
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