SUBANG JAYA (The Star/Asia News Network) - Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president S. Subramaniam on Sunday (May 29) joined several ruling coalition politicians in opposing a Bill to introduce strict Islamic criminal law called hudud.

Subramaniam said at the party's emergency general meeting that he will resign as Health Minister if the law is implemented.

His pledge was met with applause from delegates.

Dr Subramaniam is the fourth Barisan Nasional coalition party leader to make his stand against the Bill that was tabled in Parliament by Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, president of the Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) on Thursday.

Malaysian Chinese Association president and Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai, Gerakan president and Minister in the Prime Minister Department Mah Siew Keong and Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, president of the Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah or United Sabah People's Party, had voiced their opposition to the implementation of hudud in the country.

At a press conference after the MIC meeting, Subramaniam said as a first step, the party will meet the Prime Minister to convey MIC's stand against hudud.

He said if this fails and if hudud is eventually implemented, he will have no choice but to step down.

"MIC wants to make a strong stand and as a leader I will have to follow," he said.

He said the decision was made by the party's central committee and reaffirmed by delegates during the meeting.