Under the pretext to seek clarification from me, Sukri stood up to raise a subject I had not touched on in my speech on the 2000 budget, asking whether I agreed with PAS' intention to form an islamic state and implement the Hudud laws.
The answer was obvious as the DAP had said many a time, both inside and outside Parliament, that we do not support an Islamic state for a plural society like Malaysia, but all Sukri wanted was to gain some cheap publicity from the interruption.
I refused to allow Sukri to hijack the debate from what I was focussing on, namely corruption in high political places, the double standards of Anti-Corruption Agency and Barisan Nasional leaders in demanding full investigations into Murad�s statutory declaration against Anwar Ibrahim while no action or even concern was shown in the case of Anwar�s four police reports naming names about corruption in high political places in government.
I told Sukri that I am prepared to discuss the issue of Islamic state
and hudud laws with him as well as with any other Barisan Nasional
leader, but I will not allow him to hijack the debate and dictate what
I should talk about in my speech in Parliament on budget 2000.
I am prepared to discuss with Shukri, Hadi and all other PAS,
UMNO, MCA and Gerakan Ministers and MPs on the issue of Islamic State
and hudud laws at a place and time which is agreeable to all concerned
- and if they are interested, I am prepared to arrange for such a discussion
in Parliament in the current budget meeting.
(2/11/99)