KUCHING: Muara Tuang assemblyman Dato Idris Buang allayed public fear that Hudud law will be passed in Sarawak now that PAS is part of the federal government.

He said Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) would not allow that to happen.

PAS and Umno, two components of the federal Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, will not be allowed to enter Sarawak’s political arena, he said when asked to react to the fear of several quarters that Sarawak may one day be like Kelantan which is under Hudud law.

Idris did not explain further but appeared to single out PAS and Umno because PAS is a protagonist for Hudud law in Malaysia and Umno leaders are tainted by suspicion of corruption.

“No way Hudud law will get our support. I think PAS and Umno know GPS’ stance,” he said yesterday.

When contacted, Sarawak PAS commissioner Jofri Jaraee said, implementing Hudud is not as easy as it is thought to be because its implementation has to go through many procedures.

On top of that, under Hudud law there is a need for complete and solid evidence before a sentence can be implemented, he added.

Jofri told people not to be afraid of Hudud law because it is “not cruel punishment” as perceived by those who are not familiar with it.

“Why are you afraid of Hudud? You need to understand what Hudud is. If you do not commit a crime then you should not be afraid of Hudud punishment and so on.

“Hudud is an Arabic word meaning ‘borders, boundaries and / or limits’.

“Hudud crimes cannot be pardoned by the victim or by the state, and the punishments must be carried out in public.”

On Monday, GPS parliamentary chief whip Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof slammed opposition parties DAP and PKR for trying to frighten Sarawakians with claims that the coalition is now working with PAS and Umno which may result in Hudud law being implemented in Sarawak.

He said that the claim that GPS’ support for Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the new prime minister was proof that the coalition is with PAS and Umno, was baseless.

Fadillah said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had asked GPS to pick the candidate for the prime minister post and not which pact to join.