Mawan says will support move to amend Syariah Courts Act
KUCHING: Saratok MP Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom said along with other Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs he would ‘most likely’ support the move to amend the Syariah Courts ( Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355).
Party-less Mawan, who is also Pakan assemblyman, said he had a moral obligation to support the move as it is now in the hands of the BN government.
As much as the opposition would wanttocreatefearamongthepublic, people should remember that Malaysia is a multi-racial country and therefore, all communities must learn to reciprocate, he said when met yesterday.
“Time will come one day that we (Dayaks) shall need non-Dayak MPs to support a law on customs, traditions and rituals which affect only the Dayak community. If that law is proposed by the BN, then all non-Dayak MPs from BN must reciprocate by lending moral support. They (non-Dayak) may not understand our customs, traditions and rituals like we do but as BN MPs they must support us,” said Mawan, who is also Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) president.
“As a true blue BN MP I would most likely, alongside other BN MPs, support Act 355. We must not be selfish or presumptuous. And the government is our assurance that the law is fair,” he added.
When reminded that Hudud law is harsh, Mawan said it should be fine if the law acted as a deterrent. He stressed that there should be no reason for non-Muslims to fear laws that do not affect them directly.
He made the remarks after receiving a memento from SDNU Taman Malihah branch at his office in Jalan Rubber here yesterday. The handover of the memento, in the form of ‘ Duku Chandong’, to him was announced at the launch of the branch on Dec 9 when he was represented by SDNU Youth chief Churchill Edward.
On Monday, state PKR chairman Baru Bian said the directive that all BN MPs should support the proposal by PAS to upgrade the Syariah courts through an amendment of Syariah Courts Act ( Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1965) (Act355), after the federal government adopted the Bill, would be an acid test for the sincerity and principle of state BN leaders.
He, however, provoked BN MPs when saying that the directive appeared to be a threat to pressure them ( BN MPs) in Sarawak to support the Bill come what may.
“Whatever it is, they will have no choice but to support it ( Bill), being in the BN coalition. It appears that no option is given to them so that is why I said it will become an acid test to our BN MPs on the principle and concerns of the people of Sarawak because to many of us, in whatever form it may come out after this, it is still Hudud,” said Baru, who is Ba Kelalan assemblyman.
Baru also claimed that the Bill was unconstitutional because it went against the understanding reached by past or pioneer leaders pursuant to the formation of Malaysia that Malaysia should remain a nation governed by the rule of law and not religious laws.