Hadi’s monster truck must be put out of service
It is imperative that BN component parties settle their internal conflicts and work to block the private bill from getting into Parliament’s order paper.
by Tay Tian Yan
It is like a giant truck that speeds along out of control, ready to crush the guard rail and mow down everyone in its path.
In the name of lifting the status of the Shariah court, the ultimate motive of the truck is to pave a freeway for the implementation of hudud law.
The guard rail is the Parliament’s law amendment threshold, and once this obstacle is overcome, the way ahead will be largely barrier-free.
In other words, by first allowing the Kelantan government to implement hudud law already adopted by the state legislative assembly, a precedent will set, and then state after state, and eventually the entire nation, will be taken down.
This road is most positively one-way only, leading invariably to the Islamic state with no return route in sight.
Fortunately, just as PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s Bill was about to be debated, it was moved down the list, with several other government bills thrown in between.
It appears that Hadi is in for another disappointment to get his bill debated in the Dewan Rakyat.
It’s akin to diverting the monster truck to an interchange and having the imminent crisis instantaneously dispelled.
People began to breathe a sigh of relief. But, there is no cause for celebration yet, because the HA355 truck is still in good shape, its power intact, and will very likely take to the road again.
What I am trying to say is: “until when do we still have to play this dangerous game?”
Once averted but what about next time?
It’s like we have made it to the other end walking on a tightrope, time after time, but who knows luck may not be on our side one day and we’ll plunge to our doom.
If we continue to allow Hadi to keep tabling his bill and then push it behind each time citing some technical reasons, will that tame his wild ambitions at all?
I don’t quite think so. Technical reasons are only a temporary trick that serve to momentarily block Hadi’s advances. It will by no means bring him to a complete halt.
On the contrary, his engine gains in power with each comeback, as more cumulative support and resources rally behind him.
Imagine when he first tabled the bill, many took it very lightly. thinking it was a downright mission impossible.
When he tabled it for a second time, he had the support of several Islamic groups as well as the Muslim community. Many Muslim MPs might just dance to his tune.
Each unsuccessful attempt will power him up further, better equip him for the next bigger move.
Perhaps very soon Hadi’s private bill will strike a chord with a majority of Muslims in the country, and there may not be another technical reason powerful enough to reverse a trend that now basks in the support of the masses and under the tremendous pressure of electoral ballots.
So powerful that even a reinforced fortress could just be brought down effortlessly.
Hadi may not get what he wants this time but what about the next session? Who can assure us that he will not have his day sooner or later?
A more appropriate thing to do is to block the private bill from getting into the Parliament’s order paper. It is imperative that Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties settle their internal conflicts in a bid to quash any opportunistic attempt by any component party.
BN must reach a consensus and take a consistent stand in the face of a major threat trying to defeat our nation-building principles. Otherwise, the coalition will not sustain and will eventually be headed for disintegration.
Umno and Islamic leaders in the country must state firmly that Hadi’s private bill does not conform to the country’s conditions and is in no way representative of the Islamic faith.
What we want is a super sleek high speed train, not Hadi’s antiquated truck.
Tay Tian Yan writes for Sin Chew Daily.
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