Ramasamy said since Umno has shown support for the Hudud bill tabled by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, the other parties should quit the coalition.

“The support by Umno and allowing it (the bill) to be tabled, has shown that it has no respect for the Federal Constitution and the feelings of the non-Malays in the country.

“Even if Umno is focused on winning the upcoming by-elections, it is nonetheless sending the wrong signals in terms of sustaining inter-ethnic or religious relations,” he told FMT.

Ramasamy said Umno and PAS are clutching at straws to gain popularity and, hence, the daring move by the two parties.

He said peninsular parties such as MCA, Gerakan, MIC and myPPP must leave the BN coalition “en bloc” in protest.

“Umno is desperate and so is PAS. They have come together in an embrace that is deadly for the nation as a whole.

“In Malaysia, it is not the end of history but a beginning of obscurantist politics.” he said.

Meanwhile, Constitutional expert Dr Shad Salem Faruqi told The Star that PAS’ aspirations for Hudud to be implemented in Kelantan was “entirely possible”.

He said the Federal Government can transfer some of its powers to the Kelantan government if it was in support of the Hudud law.

“But even if that is so, constitutional issues cannot be surpassed,” he told the daily.