Any difference between Umno and PAS?

By Shanon Shah
shanonshah@thenutgraph.com

	"The ruling only concerns Muslims and it does not affect the non-Muslims. It is to remind the Muslims not to drink."

PAS vice-president and Kubang Kerian Member of Parliament, Salahuddin Ayub, on the Kuantan Syariah High Court's decision to sentence Mohamad Nasir Mohamad and Noorazah Baharuddin to a RM5,000 fine and six lashes of the cane in January 2009. The third accused, Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarnor, was also slapped with a RM5,000 fine and six lashes on 20 July 2009. (Source: Drinking beer can lead to caning in Malaysia, Al Arabiya News Channel, 13 Jan 2009)

---

	"The perception is that punishments meted out by the syariah court are too light and most of the time only apply to fines and never whipping. That is the contributing factor to the increase in syariah-related crimes each year, as the people think the laws are too trivial ... "Despite efforts carried out by various parties to curb immoral conduct, the problem has not been arrested."

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Umno supreme council member Maj Gen (R) Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom, on his efforts to empower the syariah courts and enhance the effectiveness of religious enforcement agencies. (Source: Syariah court to have more bite, New Straits Times, 24 April 2009)

---

	"Pemuda Umno Malaysia sentiasa menyokong kuat agar pegawai-pegawai penguatkuasa jabatan agama Islam seperti Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (Jawi) melaksanakan langkah nahi mungkar di pusat hiburan dan kelab malam ... "Kami mengutuk usaha sebarang pihak yang cuba menjatuhkan imej Jawi dan jabatan agama lain dan cuba mempertikaikan kewibawaan mereka di mahkamah ... "Pemuda Umno bersedia memberi bantuan sukarelawan untuk memastikan tugas jabatan agama Islam bertambah lancar dan berkesan."

Shamsul Najmi Shamsuddin, on behalf of Umno Youth's religious bureau, defending Jawi in its controversial raid on Kuala Lumpur's Zouk nightclub in February 2005. More than 100 Muslim youths were detained in the much-publicised raid, in which Jawi officers themselves were accused of sexual harassment and misconduct. (Source: Serbuan Jabatan Agama Islam Di Pusat Hiburan & Kelab Malam – Pengerusi Biro Agama, Laman Web Pemuda Umno Malaysia, 27 Jan 2005)

---

	"Persoalannya, sampai bila kita harus bertahan dan membiarkan racun hedonisme meresapi jiwa anak bangsa kita yang tegar mengaku Islam tapi zahirnya menentang hukum Allah? ... "Jelas di mata kita bahawa apa yang berlaku di kelab malam Zouk dan juga etika berpakaian mereka yang ditangkap tidak sesuai dengan apa yang dikehendaki oleh Islam."

Federal Territory PAS Youth's official statement on the Zouk raid, in which the wing also defended and supported Jawi. (Source: Jawi: Teruskan dakwaan terhadap Jeslina dan rakan-rakan, pemudaWILAYAH, 17 Feb 2005)

---

	"Jika kerajaan baru tidak berteraskan Islam, PAS tidak akan berkompromi. "Tidak kiralah sama ada (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) atau Umno yang akan menjadi perdana menteri. Ini adalah pendirian saya sebagai presiden PAS.''

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, indirectly upholding PAS's goal to set up an Islamic state in Malaysia. (Source: Jangan hendak jadi Mat Jenin – Hadi Awang, Utusan Malaysia, 16 Sept 2008)

---

	"Islam is the official religion and we are an Islamic state. But as an Islamic state, it does not mean that we don't respect the non-Muslims. The Muslims and the non-Muslims have their own rights [in this country]."

Datuk Seri Najib Razak, back when he was still deputy prime minister, on whether or not Malaysia is an Islamic state. (Source: Malaysia not secular state, says Najib, Bernama, 17 July 2007)