From Pakatan Rakyat to Pakatan Retak. Well, what we can expect from politicians 🙂

Since Khairy Jamaludin trapped Husam Musa (or is it something pre-planned?) over the implementation of Hudud, Pakatan is getting agitated. DAP is very unhappy at PAS and Anwar Ibrahim over their stand on Hudud.

If one remembers correctly, there was no mention of Islamic laws in the agreement made the 3 parties to work together. But now, PAS is backstabbing DAP, while PKR is playing sandiwara with words since the by-election is days away.

Let’s look at extracts from a Malaysiakini report below:

Hadi said that hudud laws were not an issue in this by-election because it had already been gazetted in Terengganu when PAS held power between 1999 to 2004.

“It only applies for Muslims while non-Muslims can decide for themselves. Misunderstanding (on this issue) between Pakatan Rakyat (parties) does not arise.

“It is only Umno that is causing problems,” he added.

Lim then replied that DAP respects the opinion of its coalition partners but Pakatan Rakyat cannot make decisions as a federal government unilaterally.

“If any problems occur, we will resolve it through musyawarah, that is through discussions. All three parties must hold discussions and if a consensus is not reached, it must be discussed again.

“This means, should PKR and PAS agree to implement hudud and DAP disagrees then it cannot be implemented. Everything must be discussed until all three parties agree,” he said.

Lim went on along the same vein for about five minutes while Hadi was noticeably uncomfortable forcing Terengganu PAS chief Mustafa Ali intervened.

Mustafa told reporters that hudud was not an issue in the Kuala Terengganu by-election as the results would not have any impact on the state or federal government.

Hmm…the seat got hot for them until squirming nervously?

I always thought that PAS will back-track/backstab/break away from the coalition. Their ideology is being compromised for the sake of winning the general elections, but it cannot be surpressed for long. PKR is depending on Anwar for comments, but no news from Tian Chua and gang. They will most likely support the stronger side, and in this case, PKR-PAS team looks a better prospect than PKR-DAP prospect.

Its very hard to have a balanced partnership in any coalition. Each party would like to think of it as being the backbone of the coalition, and PAS certainly does not want to play 3rd fiddle to Anwar and DAP.

Interestingly, according to Malaysian Insider:

Speaking to The Malaysian Insider earlier, Khairy denied he had backed the implementation of hudud during his debate with Husam.

Khairy, who has in recent weeks been campaigning on a more inclusive agenda in the race for the top job in his party’s Youth wing, was quoted by The Star as saying he supported the implementation of hudud, in what would have certainly damaged his reputation among more moderate Muslims and non-Muslims.

The Star later retracted the report.

So, did he or did he not mention that he will support Hudud law? Suara Keadilan believes he did:

… The issue over hudud – not new – stirred up a storm of reaction after Husam and Khairy both declared at an open debate they would implement the Islamic law if they came to power.

… Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak too tried to limit the damage from Khairy’s comments. The son-in-law of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had been reported as saying he would implement hudud if he won the Umno Youth chief post. He has since said he was misquoted.

Another article from CKcounterpunch blog says:

Husam’s forthrightness led Associate Prof Mohd Agus – also participating in the forum – to ask Khairy point-blankly if he would push for hudud law if he became Umno Youth chief.

Khairy, the 32-year old son-in-law of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, said he would.

Many in the audience were taken aback by his answer.

“It contrasted against his earlier remarks about multi-racialism and how important it was for Malaysians to shift to a new paradigm. With Husam, well, PAS and DAP have never been hypocritical about their opposing stands,” said a spectator who declined to be identified.

So, this unclear situation is not good. We may have some negative elements in BN itself who want to implement Hudud.