PAS Private Member's Bill on hudud is just a misunderstanding: Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak (pix) stressed that the PAS Private Member's Bill on hudud is merely a misunderstanding.
Admitting that the matter has brought heat among Barisan Nasional (BN) components, Najib said that PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was not referring to the hudud Law when he brought forward the bill.
"We have explained to our friends in BN, there was a big misunderstanding. When Hadi brought forward his Private Member's bill, they (BN component) thought that he is bringing the Hudud issue,"
"I want to explain that first, the amendments is not the Hudud Law. Second, its an advanced punishment like increasing 'rotan'. This involves the Syariah court and only involves Muslim, it has nothing to do with other religion," he said today at a press conference after the Umno Supreme Council meeting.
Najib added that by relating Hadi to hudud becoming presumptive, thus when Hadi stood up in Parliament, everybody assumed that its about hudud.
"People always label Hadi with hudud, so when he stood up, people automatically thinks its about hudud," he said.
In explaining further on Syariah court punishments, Najib said that the methods of caning are very limited and is not meant to injure the assailant.
The BN chairman also emphasised that it is not something that can be easily executed.
"It needs consent from Islamic councils, Ruler's conference and law amendments in the Parliament," he said.
Yesterday, the opposition and some BN ministers were caught off-guard when Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said proposed to bring forward the Private Member's Bill on hudud for debate.
Hadi then requested to postpone the debate to the next parliament sitting in October.
The issue has resulted to the resignation of Kedah MCA deputy chairman Datuk Dr Leong Yong Kong who quit to demonstrate his protest against the bill.
Meanwhile, Najib said Bank Negara Malaysia governor Muhammad Ibrahim has lodged a police report against the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) after releasing a document under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).
The US daily tweeted a letter purportedly from Bank Negara to Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson Datuk Hasan Ariffin, supposedly confirming that Good Star Limited was owned by tycoon Low Taek Jho.
The image of the letter was then retweeted by its Asia chief editor Tom Wright this morning.
"The governor has lodged a police report. The police have to investigate.
"This is very serious, publishing confidential document under Official Secrets Act (OSA).
"They must be able to provide us with the answers," Najib said.