KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has implored non-Muslims not to interfere with his private member’s Bill to upgrade the Shariah courts, after admitting today that it is impossible for hudud to be implemented in the country.
Citing constitutional provisions on religious freedoms, the Marang MP warned non-Muslims against meddling in Islamic affairs and declared that those who oppose his Bill are purposely making enemies of Islam and its adherents.
“Non-Muslims should celebrate this matter and respect their brethrens of a plural society and same country and motherland, in matters that has no relations with their affairs.
“Do not purposely find ways to arouse conflict in a plural and harmonious society by suddenly opposing RUU355 that is aimed at upgrading the status of the Shariah Court,” he said in a statement, referring to his Bill on the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 that is also known as Act 355.
“There is no legal or political excuse to oppose RUU355 except to wanting to be enemies against Islam and its adherents, or selling oneself to become a tool to enemies of Islam at a cheap price,” Hadi warned later in his statement.
Hadi reiterated his claim that the Bill has nothing to do with hudud, and then conceded that the controversial Islamic penal code cannot be implemented in Malaysia due to constitutional safeguards and legislative hurdles.
“However, hudud cannot be implemented in Malaysia because there are many obstacles,” Hadi said.
He listed the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution that specifies that legislating crime falls under the federal administration, while Article 76(A) specifies that the Parliament needs to pass an Act before state governments can implement a law.
The PAS president also rejected claims by Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen in Parliament, denying that the Bill will affect non-Muslims, and the rights of Sabah and Sarawak.
Hadi’s Bill seeks to amend Act 355 and empower Islamic courts to enforce any punishment ― except for the death penalty ― provided in Shariah laws for Islamic offences listed under state jurisdiction in the Federal Constitution.
Shariah court punishments are currently limited to jail terms not exceeding three years, whipping of not more than six strokes, or fines of not more than RM5,000.
Hadi has repeatedly claimed that his private member’s Bill aims to expand the range of punishments the Shariah courts can impose, and was not meant to introduce hudud law in Kelantan.
Malay Mail Online wrote last month on how amending Act 355 had turned from initially one of the essential steps in implementing hudud, to ostensibly a resolution to strengthen the Shariah courts.
The Bill was listed in Parliament’s Order Paper for this Dewan Rakyat meeting — the fourth since it first appeared — but Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has said that it is uncertain if there will be time to debate it since government business takes priority.
