The hullabaloo over the Islamic state and hudud agenda raised by PAS spiritual leader PAS Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat is nothing more than repeating an old issue for the sake of gaining attention, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The prime minister said PAS took the stance after it was severely criticised over outlandish remarks made by its deputy president, Mohamad Sabu for hailing communist insurgents as warriors instead of the police in the Bukit Kepong carnage.
"I see this as tactical for PAS got a tremendous blow after Mohamad Sabu's uncalled for statement in ridiculing nationalist fighters, who were killed in the massacre. It had caused insurmountable anger among the Malays.
"After realising that their support is waning significantly, they tried to raise the hudud issue with the hope that the Mohamad Sabu's issue will die out.
"And they are trying to remerge (from the quagmire) as a party fighting for hudud and win the hearts of the Malays," he told reporters launching the 1Malaysia Carnival at Tanjung Tualang here Saturday.
Najib was commenting on Nik Abdul Aziz's statement that PAS would not back down from plans to institute an Islamic state and hudud agenda and that the DAP could leave the loose coalition of opposition parties if it was against it.
(Hudud means Islamic laws stating the limits ordained by Allah, including deterrent punishments for serious crimes.)
The prime minister said the hudud issue also aggravated misunderstandings among opposition parties and he hoped the people would be able to evaluate their weaknesses.
"On hudud law, their ideological differences cannot be concealed anymore, cannot be hidden from the public eye.
"I hope the people will realise this, we cannot bank on our hope on the opposition coalition that does not have common principles and ideology.
"Even though they try to hoodwink the people, eventually the flaws will be known not only over hudud but also in the distribution of positions in the shadow cabinet. They dare not formulate the (shadow) cabinet," said Najib.
On the government's stand on hudud, he said based on the constitution, hudud law would not be implemented in the country as in reality the people would not allow such law to be instituted.
"Hudud law will not be implemented in Malaysia, but we accept it is the God's laws and as a party consisting of Muslims, we accept this fact but if it were to be implemented it must be based on reality.
"Even if you were to ask Islamic scholars, Islamic laws cannot be implemented unless we have taken into account the environment and the reality in the society," he said.
Najib said the government had already taken into account the principle of "Maqasid Syariah", which stipulated that the real goal of administration is to resolve the problems of the people.
"After all, the goal of administration in Islam is the Maqasid Syariah principle, which among others are to defend the religion, lives, morals and properties. So with existing laws, the principle of Maqasid Syariah could and would be effectively defended," he said.
He said the real objectives must be achieved, which included enhancing the people well-being and the country remained peaceful and prosperous.
At the function, Najib, who was accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor joined the local community in fishing for lobsters at a pond.
