Christian group says Hadi’s bill will have grave consequences

Christian Federation of Malaysia releases fact sheet on proposed bill and why it should be opposed, urging Malaysians to lobby their MPs to vote against bill.

PETALING JAYA: The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) says the amendments proposed to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) will have grave consequences, affecting the fundamental principles of justice, freedoms and rights of all Malaysians.

Referring to the private member’s bill by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, CFM chairman Rev Eu Hong Sen said the proposed amendments should only be initiated by the government after a thorough study of its impact and gravity on Malaysians from all walks of life.

“They (the amendments) must be thoroughly and responsibly discussed openly and honestly, but this has not happened.

“The amendments should no longer be solely in the domain of Muslims alone. Nor should it be seen as a compulsive duty by Muslims as asserted by the PAS president, even to the extent of claiming it is ‘Divine Law’,” Eu said in a statement which was accompanied by a fact sheet on the amendments.

Saying that Islamic laws have already had an impact on the lives of non-Muslim, the CFM gave examples across the past few decades, from the use of words deemed only applicable for Muslims, and the continuous controversies of what is “halal”, and what is not.

“Although non-Muslims keep being reassured that they will not be affected, this is untrue.

“That is why CFM have come up with a fact sheet, so that non-Muslim Malaysians will be made aware of the implications of this Bill,” Eu said, appealing to all Malaysians to ask their respective MPs to vote against the proposed amendments.

With Umno, the main party in the ruling Barisan Nasional government, joining forces with PAS to present this Bill in Parliament, CFM said the implications are considerable as Umno leaders have openly expressed their support for this Bill.

“Therefore, CFM calls upon members of the Malaysian Parliament, both in the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, not to approve either version of the proposed amendments to Act 355.”

The CFM fact sheet is listed here. -FMT