Hokkian Associations launches campaign to get one million signatures against hudud implementation

PETALING JAYA: The Federation of Hokkian Associations of Malaysia on Saturday launched a campaign to collect one million signatures against any attempt to implement hudud in Malaysia.
Its president Datuk Khoo Chai Kaa said it has roped in member associations from all states to gather the target number of signatures by the Sept 20 deadline, to be in time for submission to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of parliamentary affairs Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Oriental Daily News reported today.
"We will rush for it to be presented to Azalina Othman before Parliament convenes its next meeting in October, to show our stand in opposing hudud and defending the Federal Constitution," Khoo told the press after chairing the federation's executive committee on Saturday.
In a declaration issued at the meeting, the federation said the private member's bill tabled by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to seek to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act appears to target only Muslims, but if syariah courts are given the powers to impose stiffer penalties it will lead to serious conflict of jurisdiction between civil and syariah courts.
"Malaysians are equal under the Federal Constitution and laws. It can be imagined that once the bill is passed, Muslims and non-Muslims will come under different criminal jurisdictions."
The declaration said the federation is strongly against the implementation of criminal law that applies to only the Muslims.
It also said Umno should join other Barisan Nasional component parties in opposing the bill.