INTERVIEW PAS has found an unlikely ally in its efforts to promote understanding of the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355).

Dr Ronnie Ooi, a retired doctor who moved back to Malaysia from London seven years ago, is helping the Islamic party to organise a forum on the hudud issue in Penang on Feb 25.

Ooi, who was Gerakan’s candidate for Tanjung in the 1978 general election, said he became “inactive” in politics since he lost the seat and later, when he moved to London.

“This is the first time I have dabbled in a public issue in Penang since coming back seven years ago.

“I was hoping it would not be necessary for me to do so, but PAS was looking for somebody to help them explain their stand, and I felt it would be good for the country if both sides could hear each other’s views,” Ooi told Malaysiakini in an interview.

PAS had initially approached several NGOs to help organise the forum, but as the NGOs were reluctant to do so, Ooi said he stepped in to take the task.

“I felt like I wanted to step in because I had questions I wanted to ask, and I thought a lot of other people would be interested in their answers,” he said.

The forum will be held in English, as he thinks it will give PAS an opportunity to explain the party’s views on the hudud issue to the English-educated and urban population...