Asyraf: Kit Siang shows 'anti-Islam' colours by inciting BN MPs

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang's ongoing attempts to instigate BN MPs to vote against amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 showed that he was anti-Islam, said deputy minister Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

"Lim's statement is malicious and was an attempt to incite and frighten Malaysians in relation to Act 355 which was amended for the first time without objections in 1984.

"DAP is showing its anti-Islam stance by inciting non-Muslim MPs in BN to raise doubts about the Act even though it was amended before this," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

The proposed amendment to the Act, seeks to increase the punishment that can be meted by the Syariah Courts.

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 proposal was first tabled by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang in the form of a private member's bill.

Asyraf, whose portfolio involves Muslim affairs, was responding to Lim's call for non-Umno ministers to resign from the government if the private member bill was prioritised by the government and was debated.

"This is the least that the ministers from the MCA, Gerakan, MIC and Sabah and Sarawak BN parties can do to show that they are men and women of principle, and not in politics just for position, money and power," Lim had said.- Mkini