Baru: Kelantan deputy MB's admission on Hadi' bill rings warning bells

The admission by Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah that the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdictions) Act 1965 is to "control the syariah courts" in the whole country should ring warning bells for lawmakers, says Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian.

He added that Amar's remarks should also be a wake-up call for Malaysians who are concerned about protecting the federal constitution.

He urged all parliamentarians in Sarawak to stand together in opposing PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdictions) Act 1965 or Act 355.

"I urge all Sarawak MPs to stand firm in voting against the bill. We must be vigilant in protecting the social contract between the many races that is reflected in the federal constitution," Baru said in a statement.

He pointed out that even BN Chief Minister Adenan Satem had said that the state would take all necessary steps to safeguard the state’s rights and interests as one of the founding members of the Federation of Malaysia.

Adenan had also said in his capacity as PBB chief that the party and its MPs will oppose the bill.

"I hope all Sarawakian MPs will speak in one voice against the bill to ensure that the social contract, which our founding fathers had agreed upon, is upheld for the sake of our country’s unity and harmony," said Baru.

As for PKR Sarawak, he said that it had stated very clearly that hudud is not suitable or appropriate in Malaysia.

"This bill by PAS, if passed, will surely encourage the party to push for hudud law in Malaysia," he warned.

Baru said that the bill sought to amend Act 355 in such a way that the Syariah Courts would appear to have unlimited power to impose all other hudud punishments except for the death penalty.

In the last parliamentary sitting, the government had moved a motion to ask for leave from the House for Hadi's bill to be tabled, though the PAS president had asked for the debate and voting on the motion to be deferred until the next sitting in October to give time for MPs to prepare.- Mkini