Hudud, MCA and the sexually tainted politician

by  Moaz Nair

Hudud, the singular hadd (حد) literally means "limit", or "restriction", is the word commonly used in Islamic literature for the realms of acceptable behaviour and the punishments for serious crimes. Hudud is actually a non-issue if politicians do not mess around with it for political expedient. 


Hudud is part of syariah or Islamic law for the Muslims and the non-Muslims have nothing to fear about this religious-related law. Even in an Islamic state, hudud is not imposed on non-Muslims unless they themselves prefer to adhere to it.

But, when it comes to politics even religion could be exploited for some manipulative or devious reasons. The duplicitous course deployed by a senior politician to pass the ball to PAS or Kelantan on the hudud issue is all politically stirred. The people, on the other hand, see this scheme as a trivial issue – a political cliché - and they are not going to be easily taken in by this political ruse anymore. The unequivocal fact is that PAS does not control the Federal Government and thereby have no power to implement hudud in Kelantan - if they decide to - without the consent of the latter. The priority of moderate PAS in a multi-racial and multi-religious Malaysia, nevertheless, is to implement Islamic socialism where the economic and social welfare of the people are fundamental.

Punishment on fornication

Be it as it may, the Muslims have their appropriate ways to interpret hudud from the Islamic point of view. PAS has many learned scholars or ulama that could chalk on this by not hurting the sensitivity of the non-Muslims. PAS, being a moderate Islamic party, would have the right formula for all Malaysians to live in peace. PAS believes in democracy and the rights of every citizen irrespective of race or religion. The harmonious multi-racial society of Kelantan since before independence testifies to this theory.

MCA for this reason does not need to pull out from Barisan Nasional (BN) if the latter were to implement hudud anytime soon. Nevertheless, one element that deserves punishment under hudud is fornication. MCA has to be edified that hudud involves punishment on fornication - a term that typically refers to consensual sexual intercourse between two people not married to each other. In modern usage, the term is often replaced with the more secular terms premarital sex, sex before marriage or extramarital sex. To some others in UMNO or BN, it is a wise reminder that fornication does not exclude sex with minors.

Malaysia is an Islamic state

Our Grand Old Man – the fourth prime minister of the country (from 1981 to 2003), also the BN chief at the time, did declare that Malaysia is an Islamic state. Accordingly and by virtue of the country being an Islamic state, hudud law has to be an essential ingredient of it. Since the BN chief had already declared that Malaysia is an Islamic state, BN should not give any excuse not to implement hudud. However, a senior minister just declared that he is not against hudud but he feels that the time is not yet right for it to be implemented. This is a good political manoeuvre, indeed. Anyway, there is still hope that when the time is right hudud would be implemented by BN, as this is part and parcel of an Islamic state. This political progress in BN should not scare MCA either, unless if there is something that MCA is very worried about.

When the country was declared as an Islamic state by the UMNO/BN chief then, all the component parties at the time were silent. There was no objection but it was an elegant silence on their part and in the usual BN spirit this naturally means consent. For this reason, there is no rationale for MCA to be politically jolted if BN were to implement hudud when the right time comes, as hinted by a senior UMNO minister. They should not bring MCA out of BN at anytime, as they had already given their silent consent for an Islamic state earlier. In any case, in matters relating to hudud, MCA has a choice to tag along BN if they wish to. It would be advisable for MCA to tag along since this very much conforms to the spirit of Barisan Nasional or 1Malaysia.

Undeniably, hudud law when implemented by BN under an Islamic state would see some sexually tainted politicians in real trouble, as they now have to face Divine law. The country is not in short supply of political rabbits among men.

Sexually grotty politicians would be totally damned

But then power talks and some politicians could still thank their stars as they are in the right political divide even when BN implements hudud. Law – for that matter even Divine law - could still be manipulated for political interests. These tarnished politicians would not be easily charged in court for their misdemeanours. In this country, if you are in the right political split you are quite safe as long as you are not a rebel. The media would help portray you as a first-rate clean-like-new politician. The media would venerate you like a saint or idolise you like a pop icon. Nevertheless, in the eyes of the general public, sexually grotty politicians would be totally damned and this would be expressed through the ballot box in the next general election.

Western or not western, sex has ruined many political aspirants. Despite the liberal attitude some people have towards sex, the people in general - in almost all societies - are not ready to recognise politicians who are doomed in sexual ignominy. It’s would a disrepute for those who are God-fearing to accept them as leaders.

Perverted politician wants to remain with the crown on his head

Political sex scandals have a long history in many countries. Every student of political science or national politics in the developed countries would have to do in-dept research on this subject. Let’s hope the same be done in our local universities, as we are targeting to achieve developed status by 2020 and a better ranking for our universities.

The rave over this insightful subject is phenomenal in most highly-ranked universities. Academic papers and doctoral theses have been written on juicy and covetous scandals involving politicians and the implications in their political career. Nothing is veiled when it comes to politicians and their sexual misdemeanours in the developed world.

The library and the Internet are filled with oceans of information and graphic depictions on this misconduct – leaving nothing for the imagination. The media in the developed world do not inter these scandals for fear of politicians but archive them for the public to savour. The palpable reason to this exposure is that in developed countries you must be seen clean before you could climb up the political ladder. This may not be necessary in our political set-up. A politician could be sexually perverted and yet he wants to remain with the crown on his head.

Power is aphrodisiac

The public should suggest that our students studying on Malaysian politics in local universities come up with more research on some of our sexually spoilt politicians. Henry Kissinger (b. 1923) once said: “Power not only corrupts but it is also an aphrodisiac.” Power at times could make a man lose his sense of judgment when the opposite sex is factored into his life. Studies have shown that not only politicians but even intellectuals - the like of Albert Einstein - have succumbed in many ways to women’s gracefulness and lure. Women, so they say, must be God’s finest creation!

Many politicians in the past have been caught with their fingers in the till when it comes to fornication. Technology has helped record and disseminate sensational sexual scenes involving politicians, which otherwise would not have been known to the public. Many would subsequently confess and quit politics. Some are adamant to stay on despite being loathed by the public. Many others have weathered the brunt of the tempest, but their long-term political bearing is certainly in question.

Politicians across the world have also been implicated in sexual misconduct for political reasons and the pitiable victims stay on to fight their case. Some, as noted in history, have succumbed to the political pressure and leave politics. Dictators like Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) and Joseph Stalin (1878–1953) had in the past used sex as a weapon to demonise their political nemeses. It was found to be an effective propaganda to bring down their political foes. Some world leaders are following their modus operandi for the same reason.

Politics and sex seem to be inseparable for good or bad reasons. In some countries politicians are charged in court for this misconduct and in some others they are not, depending on whether those implicated are on the right or wrong political divide. Power and politics could determine whom to charge or implicate in sexual misconduct and whom not to. This is the ugly side of politics.

Case studies on sexually tainted politicians

In the US for instance, a student of American politics would have to do research on as many politicians as they could who were involved in sexual misdeeds or fornication. Academic papers have been written on many sexually avaricious politicians, theses discussed in seminars and political conferences and this has become no secret any longer. Students are exposed to many case studies relating to this subject fully aided with visual proofs of events.

Some of the juicy case studies involved a South Carolina politician who captured the nation’s attention when he was caught having an extra-marital affair with an Argentinean woman. This case study captured a lot of attention from students of politics. It is not the first time a case study of a politician embroiled in a sex scandal is openly discussed in public. There are many more and it certainly would not be the last.

There are case studies on some of the most prominent names in American politics, from Thomas Jefferson to Ted Kennedy, who have been allegedly involved in sex scandals. Another case study involved a former U.S. senator and presidential candidate, whose political career ended when photographs were released of him with Donna Rice on his boat. One popular case study involved the 42nd president of the United States. The President adamantly denied an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky until his DNA showed up on Lewinsky’s dress. He stayed on to complete his second term as president, though.

Politicians who were involved with minors

Interestingly, case studies also involved those politicians who were insatiably involved with minors. One notable case study is on a former U.S. Republican who had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old campaign worker. Another case study involved a former Oregon governor who had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old babysitter.

Only less than 5 percent of these scandals did not result in the demise of the individuals’ political career. One of the most widely discussed in this category is probably related to a late U.S. Senator who pleaded guilty for leaving the scene of an accident in Chappaquiddick when he ran his car against and off a bridge, killing Mary Jo Kopechne.

Political sexual scandals have a long history in most countries – West and East. It has happened in almost all countries. Some political careers have survived scandals, while others have not been so fortunate. Rapacious sexual drive is purely a lust driven mad dash without they realising the consequence of these misdemeanours on their political careers. In most of these past case studies, however, these political rabbits generally treated their sexual chums with charm. Thank God, those vulnerable women were not sent to Heaven to meet God prematurely through heartless means after men’s voracious sensual spell.

MCA could start the ball rolling

We hope to see more research of this nature done on Malaysian politics in our local universities for the society to understand more about the luscious sexual life of our politicians. Perhaps political leaders could chip in their thoughts on these issues. It is not too often that academics consult politicians on matters of intellectual importance, what more on issues that involve the baser instinct. Let this be an exception, though, for the sake of public interests. Now, it is indeed an opportunity for politicians to engage the academia and let MCA start the ball rolling.

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Source : MC