KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 ― Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the tabling of a Private Member's Bill today in the Dewan Rakyat on the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill 2016 was aimed at upgrading the Shariah Courts.

“It's for the upgrading of the Shariah Courts only. It covers only Muslims,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Ahmad Zahid was asked to comment on the Bill which was tabled by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

The Bill seeks to amend Section 2 of the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 to state that the Shariah Courts will have jurisdiction over Muslims, and in the case of offences on matters listed in Item 1 of the State List under the Ninth Schedule of Federal Laws.

It was also to include Section 2A, which states that in the conduct of criminal law under Section 2A, the Shariah Courts have the right to impose penalties allowed by Shariah laws related to offences listed in the said section, in addition to the death penalty.

After tabling the Bill, Abdul Hadi proposed, under Rule 15(5) of the Standing Orders, that the Bill be debated at the next meeting of the Dewan Rakyat. ― Bernama