Say sorry for backing hudud, Seremban MP told

PETALING JAYA: A Gerakan lawmaker wants DAP leader Anthony Loke Siew Fok (pic) to say sorry for having supported the implementation of hudud.

Simpang Renggam MP Datuk Liang Teck Meng said Loke could be seen making statements in support of the Islamic law, in a four-year-old video clip that resurfaced recently.

He said Loke must take responsibility for his statements instead of blaming others for the videoclip reappearing and going viral.

The footage showed the DAP national organising secretary and MP for Seremban giving a ceramah prior to the 13th General Election, said Liang who is also Gerakan secretary-general.

“In that ceramah, YB Anthony told the audience not to fear the hudud punishments of ‘ cutting off hands and legs’ if they did not steal or rob.

“He also said that if you do not fear capital punishment, death by hanging, then there is no need to fear having your hands and legs cut off,” Liang said.

He said Loke has admitted to reporters, who had asked the DAP leader about it, that the video clip was genuine.

“He has admitted that he told the Chinese not to be afraid of hudud punishments at that time, (it was) merely to reassure the Chinese to get their support for Pakatan Rakyat in GE13,” Liang said in a statement yesterday.

He said Loke was trying to blame MCA for the video clip going viral.

It was an attempt to divert attention from the RUU355 issue, he said.

RUU355 is a Bill proposing amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act, which has drawn criticism from both sides of the political divide.