KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 — It is irresponsible to table a tweaked version of the amendments to the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 in Parliament without a “lengthy discussion” with non-Muslims, a lawmaker said today.
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)’s Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj said that while non-Muslims should not obstruct Muslims from exercising their right to support the private member’s Bill by Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, a lack of engagement could harm interracial relations.
“PSM is of view that to bring the RUU355 to the Dewan Rakyat to be voted without a lengthy discussion process first, is an irresponsible step which has the potential to split our diverse community.
“This will put a big strain on interracial and inter-religious relationships,” DrJeyakumar told a news conference today.
But he stressed that it was the right of Muslim MPs to back Hadi’s Bill, if they wished to.
“If Muslims in Malaysia believe that empowering the Shariah Courts is part of their duty as Muslims, other communities should avoid from obstructing them,” he added.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday said that the PAS president will table for a second time a tweaked version of his initial proposed amendments to the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 this week in Parliament.
Hadi tabled his private member’s Bill for the first time in the last Parliament sitting seeking to improve the Shariah courts and pave way for Hudud implementation in Kelantan.
The current limit for Shariah punishments are a fine of RM5,000, a jail term of three years and six strokes of rotan.
