KUALA SELANGOR, June 4 — Outspoken PAS MP Hanipa Maidin today criticised party President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang for tabling two private member’s bills on the Shariah penal law or hudud without first consulting the party’s central working committee.
The Sepang MP claimed that none of the party’s federal lawmakers were aware of the plan to submit the bills, which he claimed had several “weaknesses” that could be interpreted as trying to amend the Federal Constitution.
“The issue of the private member’s bills is not the issue of the laws. The issue is why was it before bringing it to the Parliament, it was not discussed with the central PAS?” Hanipa said when debating the party’s 2014 annual report.
“I am a member of central PAS, I had never seen the bill before it was tabled. We, the PAS MP, even the party whip did not know,” he added at the party’s 61st muktamar or general assembly, referring to Datuk Mahfuz Omar.
Hanipa’s outburst drew jeers from some delegates, to which he responded by equating them to the allegedly boorish behaviour of Umno MPs he has to deal with in Parliament.
“I have no problems with you (delegates). Umno is just as bad as you [in Parliament]... I love you, no problem,” Hanipa said towards the increasingly irate delegates.
On March 19, the Kelantan state assembly approved the Shariah Criminal Code (II) (1993) 2015 Enactment with 31 votes from PAS lawmakers supported by 12 from Umno.
PAS is now seeking to debate two private member’s bills in Parliament to enable Kelantan to enforce the Islamic criminal code widely called hudud ― one of which is seeking federal approval for the state to legislate Islamic punishment for crimes currently dealt with by the civil Penal Code.
