Jamil: It was BN that initially wanted to amend shariah law

© Provided by MToday News Sdn Bhd jamil-khir

KUALA LUMPUR: A minister today claimed that the proposed amendments to widen the powers of the shariah court, which has come to be associated with PAS, was first mooted by Putrajaya in 2004.

“A few suggestions were made by the government and presented in meetings in 2008,” minister in the Prime Minister’s department Jamil Khir Baharom revealed.

Jamil, who is in charge of religious affairs, said this in a written reply to Ahmad Baihaki Atiqullah (PAS-Kubang Kerian), who wanted an explanation from the prime minister on why the government had not taken the initiative to amend the Shariah Courts Act 1965.

Jamil said the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act was introduced in 1965 and provided for punishments not exceeding a jail term of six months or a fine of RM1,000 or both.

In 1984, he said, the act was amended and the maximum jail term increased to three years and the fine to RM5,000. Convicted offenders could also receive up to six strokes of the cane.

“In 1989, it was extended to Sabah and Sarawak.”

He said the strengthening of shariah laws took priority with the government as shown in Phase (1) Article 3 of the Federal Constitution, which states that Islam is the official religion of Malaysia

The proposal to amend the shariah law, better known as Act 355, was brought to the Dewan Rakyat in May last year and again by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang on Nov 24 last year.

The private member’s bill is expected to be debated during this sitting.

The bill aims to increase the penalties for shariah offences, including raising the maximum jail term from five to 30 years, the maximum fine from RM5,000 to RM100,000, and the maximum strokes of the cane from six to 100.