Liow threatens to quit if Hadi’s bill passes

MCA president says the party was not consulted on setting up of a parliamentary select committee to look into amendments to increase penalties for shariah courts.

PETALING JAYA: MCA president Liow Tiong Lai has insisted he will resign from his minister’s post should PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s Bill on shariah law be passed in Parliament.

“My position is the same and, more importantly, I still insist that the bill should not be presented by Hadi.

“Hadi’s bill should not be supported because if any bill is to be passed in Parliament, it should be via the government,” Liow told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday, Star Online reported.

Liow, who is transport minister, said Hadi’s bill was “a blank cheque” for the shariah court to implement hudud nationwide and is against the spirit of the Federal Constitution.

On the proposed setting up of a parliamentary select committee to look into amendments to increase the penalties for shariah courts, Liow said MCA was not consulted on the matter.

He added the party will “look at the contents” of the bill first. -FMT