Clarification on participation in MCA's hudud forum

Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, 22 November 2011

I was in utter disbelief and stupefaction after reading the reports today on The Star Online and The New Straits Times. It was stated that IRF’s Research Fellow, Ahmad Fuad Rahmat, would be talking part in a forum on Dec 4 at Wisma MCA to counter opposition on the proposed Hudud Law.

MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek claimed that we either progress with the leadership of Najib Tun Razak or go backward with PAS that is adamant about implementing the Hudud Law.

IRF has to make its stand very clear. We were invited to participate in a forum to discuss about Hudud and its implication to the non-Muslims. We were also made to understand that Dr Siti Mariah from PAS would be one of the panelists.

At no certain terms would we have agreed to participate in this forum if the intention of MCA was made clear to us beforehand.  We agreed on good faith that there would be an intellectual discussion on this issue. However it seems that Dr Chua Soi Lek has twisted the facts and turned it to become a front supporting the Prime Minister and anti-opposition.

IRF has its own stand regarding Hudud Laws. We have issued statements about our stand. It is wrong to say that our stand on Hudud is in line with the current Government. Our unique stand has nothing to do with mundane politics and should not be construed as an endorsement for the prevailing injustice in our system.

We are very saddened with this twisted fact that has tainted our credentials.  We therefore decided to formally withdraw our participation and will never participate in any forums or dialogues organized by MCA in the future.

It seems that our participation in this forum has been pitched as a partisan affair. Islamic Renaissance Front is being portrayed as a front for MCA and the government under prime minister Najib Razak to fight the opposition.

We would like to make our stand clear that we are non-partisan. The statement by MCA president Chua Soi Lek is very damning and detrimental to our image.

* The writer is director, Islamic Renaissance Front.