Two bills related to Islam appear to be key issues this session

Two bills revolving around Islam look set to be among the key issues of the first Parliament meeting of 2017, which began yesterday.

These are the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) (Amendment) Bill and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act (Act 355).

The first bill seeks, among others, to resolve problems regarding unilateral conversion.

First tabled in November last year, the bill touches on problems arising from divorce and child custody issues after a spouse has converted to Islam.

The bill seeks to include a new provision that stipulates that the religion of any child of a civil marriage shall maintain the same religion, even if one spouse converts to Islam, with the exception that both parents agree to the conversion.

The marriage and divorce law amendment is currently number five on the order paper, and is the third out of four government bills currently on the waiting list.

Meanwhile, Hadi's bill, which is number seven on the order paper, seeks to raise the punishment cap for syariah offences.

Hadi wants the maximum sentencing for such offences to be 30 years’ jail, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the cane.

The current syariah punishment cap is three years’ imprisonment, RM5,000 fine and six strokes of the cane.

The government is expected to adopt the bill once it reaches the second reading.

However, opponents of the amendments have raised concerns, among others, on its arbitrary nature, which allows for disproportionate punishment.

If debated, this will be the third time Hadi's amendments for the syariah law are discussed in the House.

This will depend on whether the government bills have been done with, although Putrajaya has fast tracked a motion by Hadi to table the bill twice.

Major debate on Agong's royal address

The first major debate of this session will be on the royal address of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Parliament’s opening yesterday.

It is typically a free-for-all session, in which MPs may raise any matter, and ends with them giving thanks to the Agong.

Also in the order paper is a bill by the government to reform the Bankruptcy Act, which among others will add protection for guarantors.

Meanwhile, the opposition has filed several motions critical of the government.

This include motions by DAP Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming seeking a royal commission of inquiry into the 1MDB scandal, as well as for the currently classified 1MDB audit report to be tabled in the House.

Amanah's Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad has also submitted a motion to summon attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali to explain to the Dewan Rakyat his decision not to pursue legal action in the 1MDB scandal.

Khalid's motion is not yet in the order paper.

It is unlikely that either of these motions will be discussed in the House as government business takes precedent over private motions.

This current Parliament sitting will run for five weeks, from March 6 to April 6.- Mkini