KUALA LUMPUR: THE controversial hudud-linked bill seeking to empower the syariah courts is expected to finally be tabled and debated in Parliament next week.
The bill aims to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 to expand the range of punishments that could be imposed in syariah courts. Currently, syariah courts can only mete out a maximum three years’ jail, RM5,000 fine or six strokes of the rotan.
On March 19 last year, the Syariah Criminal Code (II) (1993) 2015 Enactment was approved by the Kelantan legislative assembly after receiving 31 votes from Pas lawmakers and 12 from Umno. However, to enforce the amended law, the Pas-led Kelantan government needs Parliament’s support in passing the private member’s bill.
Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has been seeking to table the private member’s bill in Parliament, but was repeatedly slammed by former ally DAP.
Pas’s proposal to amend the act to allow the implementation of syariah criminal law in Kelantan was in the Parliament order papers in April and June last year and May this year.
The bill has sparked controversy and is linked to the break up of Pakatan Rakyat due to the spat between Pas and DAP.
DAP rejected the proposal and threatened to sever ties with Pas should the latter continue with its plan, which it did last year.
The bill seems to have divided Muslims and non-Muslims in Barisan Nasional as well as the opposition. Besides DAP, BN component parties have also disagreed with Pas’s bill.
MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong had threatened to quit their cabinet positions should the bill be passed.
“We are disappointed that this matter was not discussed in cabinet or the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council,” Liow said in a joint statement with MCA, Gerakan, MIC and SUPP on May 27.
“Despite the bill being applicable only to Muslims in Kelantan, any law seeking to impose an open-ended form of punishment on a select group of Malaysians contravenes Article 8 of the Federal Constitution, and is unconstitutional.”
Pas has defended its stance, saying the bill does not aim to introduce hudud in Kelantan, but to expand the range of punishments that can be imposed by the syariah courts.
Hadi had said Pas was “merely trying to uplift the status of the Syariah Court”, and blamed DAP for “creating controversy surrounding the bill”.
He further claimed that there was an agenda by DAP to “portray Islam in a bad light” because it was “afraid these laws will get a good response from non-Muslims”.
Pas also held a nationwide tour to share information on the amendment.