Muslims tackle their silent MP

By HELEN TUNNAH

"Please explain, Dr Choudhary."

That will be the request put to New Zealand's first Muslim MP Ashraf Choudhary by the Federation of Ethnic Councils today after his no-vote on a Government proposal to allow civil unions as an alternative to marriage for gay and straight couples.

Dr Choudhary, who has already faced criticism from pro-marriage quarters in the Muslim community for not voting against the Civil Union Bill, would not talk to the Weekend Herald, but issued a brief statement.

"I acknowledge that it is important to protect the human rights of minorities, just like I expect fair-minded New Zealanders to respect and protect the rights of ethnic and religious minorities," he said.

"It is also important that I have regard to the expectations of ethnic communities that I represent."

Pakistan-born of Indian heritage, Dr Choudhary is a list MP, selected for Labour as a representative of both the Muslim and ethnic minority communities.

It is the second time Dr Choudhary has failed to reach a yes or no answer on a moral debate in Parliament, and both times he has copped flak from the Muslim community for his decision.

A year ago his decision to abstain was pivotal when MPs voted 60 votes to 59 to decriminalise prostitution.

Prime Minister Helen Clark, a strong supporter of civil unions, declined to comment on Dr Choudhary's decision not to vote.

Labour has given its MPs a conscience vote on the Government bill, releasing them from the usual obligation to support a party position. Only six of Labour's 51 MPs voted against the bill on Thursday. Three others did not vote at all.

Federation president Pancha Narayanan told the Weekend Herald ethnic communities expected their representatives to vote.

He said they had little direct representation in Parliament, and did not want opportunities to have their views heard lost.

The federation leader said Dr Choudhary, who would be at the meeting with staunch opponent Peter Dunne and civil unions flag-waver, Ethnic Affairs Minister Chris Carter, would be asked to explain his no-vote.

If Dr Choudhary wanted to vote against the expected wishes of the grassroots community, then he should be prepared to explain why. "Then he would gain respect."

Because it was a conscience vote, Dr Choudhary had to weigh up whether to vote according to the Muslim and ethnic community wishes or according to what he thought was the best decision.

Another Labour MP who did not vote for the first reading of the Civil Union Bill, Winnie Laban, has come under pressure from the Pacific Island christian community to oppose the bill. She said last night she was finding the issue "incredibly hard".

Mrs Laban switched her vote at the last minute to support prostitution law reform last year, and said that had promoted strong criticisms of her from churches.

A New Zealand-born Pacific Islander, Mrs Laban said she had to balance the views of the Pacific and church communities, with those of other people in her Mana electorate.

Both Dr Choudhary and Mrs Laban said they would decide how to vote after the select committee had heard the public's views.

The bill passed its first reading by 66 votes to 50.

Labour MP Janet Mackey, who also did not vote, could not be contacted yesterday.