Group hopes memo will turn Gobind into a Muslim, support Act 355

A group claiming to represent 500 NGOs is hoping that a memorandum aimed at Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo will open the DAP lawmaker's heart to Islam and to support amendments to Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act (Act 355).

Masridzi Sat, one of the leaders at the 50-man Himpunan Ummah gathering in Puchong today, expressed this hope after Friday prayers at the Al Husna Mosque.

"We hope this memorandum, with the goodness of Friday and our gathering at this mosque, will open Gobind's heart, so that he does not only support (Act 355) but does not reject, and even converts to Islam, InsyaAllah," Masridzi said in his speech.

The memorandum, among others, urges Gobind to respect the right of Muslims to amend Act 355, and to either support or abstain from voting on the amendments in Parliament.

This came in reaction to the Puchong MP’s statement that DAP would not support the amendments.

The amendments, being pushed by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, seek to raise the punishment cap for syariah offences to 30 years’ jail, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the cane.

The current syariah punishment cap is three years’ imprisonment, RM5,000 fine and six strokes of the cane.

The group, dressed in purple, similar to the theme at a major rally by PAS in support of the amendments two weeks ago, held up several signs, two of which read, "Puchong Muslims reject Gobind" and "Ya Allah, May our MPs support Act 355".

After a round of speeches at Al Husna Mosque, the group then drove to Gobind's service centre, 4km away in Bandar Puchong Jaya.

There, Himpunan Ummah chairperson Aminuddin Yahaya handed over the memorandum to Gobind's aide Tawfiq Azraie.

"If he doesn't support the Act 355 amendments, then Muslim votes for him will be gone," Aminuddin told Tawfiq.

Tawfiq told reporters that Gobind was aware that the memorandum was being sent.

In a statement later, the DAP legal bureau chief said he respected the group for sending him the memorandum, and stressed that he accepted and respected Islam's position as the country's official religion.

He added that both Muslims and non-Muslims have had opposing views regarding the amendments and that he stands firm in his opposition to it.

"I will give my reasons in full detail when the motion is debated in parliament," Gobind said.- Mkini