KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 – Sin Chew Daily today contended that it had not misquoted or distorted anyone’s statement on the proposed hudud law implementation.
The Chinese newspaper on its website said it had to make clear that its reports on the hudud law had not been tailored in such a way to baffle PAS or Pakatan Rakyat, but to deliver accurate and essential information to the reading public.
“As a public medium, we are in no position to conceal any piece of important information from public knowledge, especially something that involves public interests, and incidents that may transform our society in one way or another.
“It is imperative that PAS’ stand on the implementation of hudud law be exposed under the sun so that members of the public could comprehend, evaluate and make their options
“The worst thing we could do is to selectively hide the truth, glorifying the most beautiful parts and covering up the rest of it.
“The most despicable and deceitful way of doing things is to tell one side of the story to the Muslim community and the other side to the non-Muslims,” it said in the article “Hudud law: Truth or illusion?” written by Tay Tian Yan and translated into English by Dominic Loh.
The article was to clarify the allegation made by PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu (Mat Sabu) in Harakahdaily yesterday that the paper had distorted his statement by quoting him as saying that PAS would push for the implementation of hudud once the opposition captures Putrajaya.
The article on the interview with Mohamad was carried by Sin Chew Daily on Monday, quoting him also as saying that PAS would propose to amend the Federal Constitution to pave the way for Islamic criminal law.
Sin Chew in its article today said its reporter had called Mat Sabu again after the evening edition hit the streets on Sunday to reconfirm with him on the content of his statement and Mat Sabu offered to change the tone from “decided” to “had the intention” (berhasrat) which the reporter agreed to change.
“In the meantime, we also interviewed PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man to get him to clarify on the party’s stand on this issue. His response was consistent with that of Mat Sabu,” it said.
“Unfortunately, after the report went into print, Mat Sabu denied the following day what he had said and claimed that Sin Chew Daily had distorted his speech. We tried to contact him with the hope of seeking further clarification from him but so far have not been able to get him.
“PAS used to enjoy a respectable repute and should therefore treasure its own credibility. If the party insists that the hudud law is correct and appropriate, it should then publicly proclaim its political agenda in the same tone, be it to the Muslim or non-Muslim society and go on to promote and lobby for it among the Chinese voters,” it said.
