Azalina: Fast-tracking Hadi's bill shows commitment to reforms

The government is claiming that the fast-tracking of Marang MP Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill on hudud is proof positive of its openness and commitment to parliamentary reforms.

"The tabling of the Marang MP's Private Member's Bill also reflected the government's openness when it allowed this in the Dewan Rakyat.

"This move is seen to be in line with efforts to bring about parliamentary reforms, which are being implemented in the current sitting," said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said in a statement.

She said that such a bill could be be brought by any member of the Dewan Rakyat and this was not the first time that it had happened.

She said that Gua Musang MP, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, had tabled a Private Member's Bill to amend the Societies Act 1966 on Dec 5 1988. The Bill was carried through until the debate and voting stage.

"The government remains committed to ensuring that the institution of parliament continue to be upheld and democratic practice ensconced in the nation," she said.

She said the Private Member's Bill Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdictions) (Amendment) 2016, also dubbed the Hudud Bill, which was submitted to the Dewan Rakyat by Hadi, was to strengthen the role and power of the Syariah Courts.

Azalina pointed out that that the bill's actual purpose was to amend the law governing the jurisdiction of the Syariah Courts, to allow for the implementation of the Islamic penal code in PAS-ruled Kelantan.

She was commenting on the government tabling a motion to suspend its business in the House and allowing Hadi's Private Member's Bill to be tabled.

But Hadi unexpectedly decided to ask that his Bill be postponed until the next sitting.

He, however, expressed his gratitude to Putrajaya after receiving support from the government for the tabling of the Hudud Bill.

The bill has been in the Parliament order paper for several sessions but had never seen the light of day until today, after it received backing from the government. - Mkini