On March 31, Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz was reported to say that the Cabinet did not discuss the hudud bill during its meeting last week.
Then on April 2, International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapha Mohamad also openly confirmed that the Cabinet had not discussed Kelantan‘s hudud bill. He said the Cabinet had not discussed it but BN had.
Despite denials by two Cabinet Ministers, MCA President and Cabinet member Dato Seri Liow Tiong Lai has issued a statement on April 4 insisting that the Cabinet did discuss hudud bill and the Cabinet minutes dated March 20 and March 27 will be the proof.
Yesterday, Youth Minister Khairy Jamaluddin became the third Minister to openly say that hudud bill was not discussed at recent Cabinet meetings.
He told reporters “It was just presented, saying that this had happened.”
The denials by three Umno Cabinet Ministers have contradicted Liow’s claim that the Cabinet had discussed hudud bill on March 20 and March 27.
It is either the three Umno Ministers or Liow have not told the truth.
Since Liow has been telling the people that they are firmly opposed to hudud implementation and that they have stated their objection in Cabinet meeting, Liow must show proof that he has not lied to or misled the Chinese community on what has happened at Cabinet meetings.
Did he try to hoodwink the people by claiming the bill was discussed when the fact is that the bill was only presented without discussion?
Over the last one year, MCA leaders have been telling the Chinese community that they will oppose the hudud bill inside and outside Cabinet meeting.
With three Umno Ministers virtually calling Liow a liar, he and his deputy Dato Wee Ka Siong cannot choose to run away from the issue.
There are two options for these two MCA Ministers who have tried to portray themselves as the principled and courageous heroes who will fight against hudud implementation.
They must produce proof that the Cabinet did discuss hudud bill as claimed, or they must resign from the Cabinet for having lied to the people.
They must also prove that if the bill was discussed, they did state their clear and strong stand of opposing hudud implementation.
Teresa Kok