MCA President and Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai has been challenged to confront Prime Minister Najib Razak over the controversy whether the ‘Hudud Bill’ does indeed concern the Islamic penal code or not.

Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang said this following Liow and other non-Umno ministers last weekend threatened to quit their cabinet posts should PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang Private Member's Bill be passed in Parliament.

Lim pointed out Najib on Friday claimed the bill was merely a big misunderstanding, “which is in stark contrast to the MCA, Gerakan and MIC positions”.

“Was the prime minister right in claiming that Hadi’s bill was not on ‘hudud’, or were the ministers who threaten resignation right in declaring that Hadi’s bill will lead to hudud?” asked Lim in his speech for the DAP ceramah in Sekinchan last night.

“Liow has said that he will meet Najib to convey MCA members’ concerns over Hadi’s bill.

“He should meet Najib on three-point agenda: the cabinet meeting on May 20 rejecting Hadi’s bill, whether Hadi’s bill was about hudud and to restore status quo ante by sacking (ministers) Azalina Othman Said and Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin,” said Lim

Yesterday, Lim claimed BN leaders had raised concerns about the tabling of Hadi’s bill prior to the parliamentary session on Thursday where Azalina proposed to move the bill up the day’s agenda, seconded by Rosnah.

"What did Liow and Mah do in the 24 hours before Azalina moved the motion [...]?" he had asked.

Lim said BN ministers threatening to quit the cabinet is of no use, if they do not take the prime minister to task and demand for the sacking of Azalina and Rosnah.

The controversial introduction of Hadi's bill, which seeks amendments in federal syariah laws to pave way for the implementation of the Islamic penal code hudud in Kelantan, has sparked an uproar on both sides of the political fence.

While BN leaders have raised concerns about the unconstitutionality of hudud, other observers such as Sungai Siput MP Jeyakumar Devaraj and others have seen it as a ploy to undermine the opposition in the upcoming twin by-elections.

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