SIS to hold Twitter dialogue on Act 355

Sisters in Islam will hold a two-day "tweet chat" session to answer questions on the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, or Act 355.

Beginning at 10am tomorrow, Twitter users can address the group's Twitter handle @SistersinIslam with questions using the hashtag #betulkeRUU355, which will be replied by the group's activists.

"The important thing that SIS hopes to achieve through the Twitter campaign is to educate the public about Act 355, the possible impact on Malaysians and get a conversation started.

"We aim to answer questions, such as whether it will have an impact on non-Muslims or if it is related to hudud," SIS spokesperson Aliah Ali told Malaysiakini.

SIS believes that if Islam is used as a source of law and public policy, then every citizen has a right to discuss and debate the matter, she said.

Aliah said SIS was concerned with the possibility that the amendments would cause more injustices.

"We have already witnessed many cases of overzealous moral policing in Malaysia.

"The proposed higher penalties risk more injustices and create an image of Islam as a punitive religion," she stressed.

The proposed legislative amendments were tabled by Marang MP and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang last year. He sought to set a new limit on punishments to be meted by the syariah court to 30 years’ jail, RM100,000 fine and 100 lashes of the rotan.

The current cap is five years’ jail, RM3,000 fine and six lashes.

The Dewan Rakyat is expected to debate Abdul Hadi's bill in March.- Mkini