Asyraf: Act 355 isn't going to be a cure-all for country's ills

The planned amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 is not going to be a cure for all of the country's ills, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

However, he said enhancing the punishments that the Syariah Courts can mete out is one aspect to that end.

"We also need to resolve issues of education, the structure of society, the management of social issues and even dealing with social media.

"We also need to enhance the punishment but do not take it as a cure-all," he told a forum on the planned amendments in Kuala Lumpur today.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had last year tabled a private member's bill to amend the legislation, also known as Act 355.

It seeks to increase the maximum punishment from three years' imprisonment, RM5,000 fine and six strokes of the rotan to 30 years' imprisonment, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the rotan.

The Umno-led government had indicated its support but its BN partners have shown resistance.

Asyraf lamented the negative perception towards the planed amendments.

"I had spoken to my Chinese friends. They said if Act 355 is allowed to be amended, Malaysia would change.

"People would become depressed and there would be fear of punishments," he said.

He said such views were based on sentiments due to a lack of understanding on the issue.

He urged that any discussion on the matter should be based on the core issues instead of prejudice that can hurt the country's harmony.

Also present at the forum were PAS information chief Nasruddin Hassan and former Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.- Mkini