KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 — The fundamental changes made to Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's so-called Shariah Bill meant it cannot be considered to have undergone the first reading in Parliament, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said clarified today.
The minister in the Prime Minister's Department explained that while Parliament's Standing Orders permit the submitter of a private member's Bill to defer its reading or make amendments, these must be accompanied by adequate notice to the House.
“Private member's Bills differ from government Bills where a minister may give one day's notice, after which the Bills are read out by the Secretary of the Dewan Rakyat and considered to have undergone the first reading,” she said in a statement today.
She then advised MPs to observe the Standing Orders as well as the Speaker's rulings to ensure the smooth function of Parliament.
Azalina also denied Hadi’s Bill was related to hudud, the Islamic penal code, and said it was only to enhance the punishments available to the Shariah courts.
Previously, it was reported that today's tabling of Hadi's motion on his Bill would be its second reading, following its tabling in the previous parliamentary meeting.
Hadi today read his motion for the amended version of his private member's Bill, but again deferred it to the next time Parliament convenes.
