The only way to implement the Islamic hudud law is by implementing it "by force", Malaysian National Defence University lecturer Ridhuan Tee Abdullah said today.

"To implement Islamic law and to educate non-Muslims (on Islam) can only be done by force," the associate professor told a forum entitled 'Hudud: Its dilemma and implementation' organised by Malay-language daily Sinar Harian in Shah Alam today.

Qualifying his assertion, Ridhuan (right) said this is because the "negative attitude" of non-Muslims towards Islamic law makes it unlikely that they will voluntarily accept its implementation.

He related his own experience as being an ethnic Chinese from a staunchly Chinese family and observations and studies of non-Muslims and their perception of Malaysia's federal religion.

"I can say that from then (the past) till now, the perception of non-Muslims toward Islam hasn't improved."

He also cited studies that show that the perception of the Chinese, even amongst the educated, toward Islam and hudud is very unfavourable.

"It is said that when asked to pick between an Umno that is known to be corrupt and PAS that is known for its integrity, a Chinese would rather chose the corrupt Umno over PAS and the Islamic state," claimed Ridhuan.

He said with what he felt was serious fragmentation amongst Muslims despite being the majority, they neither had the clout nor the will to follow through with implementing hudud.

"We should have taken the chance to do so (implement Islamic law) after May 13 (1969)," he said.

He argued that at the time, momentum on the side of the Malay-Muslims presented the perfect opportunity to force the implementation of Islamic law.

‘Chinese receptive’

Another panellist, state exco member for religious affairs Mohd Amar Abdullah (below) however said that PAS, in particular its government in Kelantan has other ideas on hudud.

"It is about a change of mindset. From viewing Islam as a ritual, to viewing Islam as a way of life.

"This is via implementing Islamic policies and educating the rakyat, in preparation for their acceptance of Islam and hudud," said Mohd Amar.

He explained that while the PAS led Kelantan government passed the hudud enactment in 1993, they did not implement it in toto immediately.

"We can compromise in the implementation," Mohd Amar said, adding that PAS' experience in Kelantan showed that unlike Ridhuan's assertation, non-Muslims are very receptive to explanations about hudud and Islam.

He explained that time is needed to ensure not only acceptance by the rakyat, but also that all the proper procedures and the nitty-gritty are spelled out in advance.

"The important thing now is to put hudud at its rightful place as a law, then we can work towards implementing it."

Hudud, he said, is not only about cutting off hands of thieves that most people equate it to, but involved a whole slew of other issues and considerations that show the true compassionate face of Islam.

"There is actually a twenty point checklist that will defer the punishment of amputation for thieves," he explained, such as sparing those who steal because of economic pressure and for thefts of goods that are low in value.

The issue of Islamic law and specifically its subset of hudud has been the point of contention for PAS that has pledged to implement Islamic law, to the cool reception from political ally the DAP.

The issue has been played up by the BN at the onset of most general elections, critics say, as the bogeyman had in the past used to scare non-Muslims into supporting the ruling coalition. Malaysiakini