PAS: Too early to discuss Act 355

PAS today stressed that it is still too early to discuss amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, or Act 355, which it had championed while on the opposition bench.

Its vice-president Mohd Amar Abdullah (pictured above) said now that PAS is in government, there are other challenges which should be prioritised.

"We hope the amendments can be made, but it is too soon (to discuss it).

"(The new cabinet ministers) are sworn in today, so they haven't had much time yet (to consider what to do).

"We also have a big challenge coming up on May 18, where there might be a no-confidence vote called in Parliament," he told reporters at Kompleks Kota Darulnaim, Kota Bharu, today.

The Kelantan deputy menteri besar was commenting on the formation of the new cabinet under prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, announced yesterday. 

Up to 31 ministers, aside from the prime minister, and 38 deputy ministers are being sworn in at the national palace today.

The bill to amend Act 355 is seeking to expand the Syariah Court's powers to impose a penalty of up to 30 years, a fine of not more RM100,000 and up to 100 strokes of the cane.

Currently, Syariah Courts can only impose penalties of up to three years jail, an RM5,000 fine and six strokes of the cane.

Before GE14, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang tabled a private member's bill to amend Act 355, which garnered support from Umno when it was in the government.

The move was seen as manoeuvring to put Muslim MPs in Pakatan Harapan in a difficult position but it also caused friction within BN when its non-Muslim parties, including MCA and MIC as well as East Malaysia-based parties, objected to the bill.

The bill was not revived after BN was defeated at the polls and PAS failed to gain substantial parliamentary seats after going it alone.

Meanwhile, Mohd Amar urged the public to temper its expectations of the new government for at least the first two months because there are administrative matters which needed to be resolved first.

"We can't expect anything big in the first two months. Let's solve the basic things first. We can discuss the others later," he said. - Mkini