BN prods PAS to 'test' Dr M by reviving Act 355 motion

BN has prodded PAS to revive its ambitions to amend the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act or Act 355 under the new Pakatan Harapan federal government.

Speaking during the Kelantan state assembly sitting in Kota Bharu today, state opposition leader Md Alwi Che Ahmad said this could be a test on Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He pointed out that during Mahathir's first stint as prime minister in 1990, he had warned of tough action if Kelantan implemented the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment II, which was essentially hudud.

"Now the fourth prime minister is the seventh prime minister... we tested the previous (federal) government and they agreed (with Act 355).

"So, can't we test the seventh prime minister? We'll do what needs to be done and see what will they (Harapan federal government) do.

"We believe the people will stand with us in the interest of Islam," he said, Md Alwi, who is also Umno's Kok Lanas assemblyperson.

The then BN federal government had allowed PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to table a private member's bill motion to amend Act 355 in Parliament.

The private member's bill seeks to increase the Syariah punishment under Act 355 from three years imprisonment, RM5,000 fine and six strokes to the rotan to 10 years imprisonment, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the rotan.

This would essentially allow Kelantan's Syariah Criminal Code Enactment II to be implemented.

However, the motion did not make significant progress after Umno's allies in BN voiced fierce opposition.

The motion was not carried forward to the new Parliament sitting.

Responding to Md Ali, Mohd Nassuruddin Daud (PAS-Meranti) said Kelantan was committed about negotiating with the new federal government on the matter.

"We hope that in this matter (RUU355), (Mahathir's) attitude will change for the better - that is our hope," said Ahmad Alwi, who is also the exco in charge of Islam.

He noted that it was also Mahathir who had denied Kelantan oil royalty when he was the fourth prime minister but is now willing to offer it as the seventh prime minister. - Mkini