MCA using wrong tactic on hudud

PETALING JAYA: Former MCA chief Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek says his successor Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has used the wrong strategy to fight PAS hudud move.
Speaking to the Chinese media in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, he criticised the MCA chief's attempt to use a "constitutional crisis", purportedly being triggered by the call to implement the Islamic penal code, as a means to counter the PAS initiative.
He wondered how many Malaysians would understand what Liow meant by "constitutional crisis", China Press and Sin Chew Daily reported today.
"If I were the MCA president, I would gather all Chinese-based political parties for a meeting with Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak to ask the prime minister to list the hudud issue as the Barisan Nasional supreme council's top agenda, and to state clearly that Umno is different from PAS (on the issue).
"If I were Liow, I will take up the issue with the Dewan Rakyat speaker, as rarely have private member's bills been passed in our Parliament.
"According to parliamentary proceedings, only private member's bills on 'government affairs' can be tabled for discussion."
Chua said PAS hudud should be countered from the point of its economic impact on the country.
"We have to counter (PAS hudud) with argument, and not unfurl protest banners daily," he said, citing that apart from Saudi Arabia, which is oil-rich, the 11 countries which implemented hudud, particularly Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan and Nigeria, have not improved economically and security-wise.
"We have to counter (PAS hudud) with argument, and not unfurl protest banners daily.
"If any state implements hudud in violation of the prime minister's 1Malaysia concept, apart from it being in contravention of the Federal Constitution, it will also affect the country's image and deter foreign investors," he said, adding that the economic implications must be explained to the prime minister.
Chua also criticised Liow and Penang MCA chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun for advocating that the party sit out the Bukit Gelugor by-election.
He said the by-election is the perfect platform for MCA to fight the PAS hudud issue and let Penang voters see DAP's true colours.
He also said the new leadership could also have used the by-election to gauge its support rate.