Masing: Consult the people before amending constitution

KUCHING: Based on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 ( MA63) the country was formed as a secular State, so if the Federal Constitution needs to be amended, then the people must be consulted once again whether they prefer Malaysia to become an Islamic state, opined Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing.

He pointed out that PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s Bill seeking an amendment to the Syariah Courts Act ( Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1965) or commonly known as Act 355 which will be on the agenda of the upcoming Parliamentary Session on March 7, should be rejected as it would create two sets of legal systems.

“Our ( PRS) view remains unchanged. We have to safeguard the country’s supreme law which is the Federal Constitution. It has worked all these while, why the need to amend it? Why should you change a machine that has been running smoothly for the last 53 years?”

“At the same time, if we need to change the Federal Constitution, we need to get back to the negotiation table again and see how the people will react to it,” Masing told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Hadi’s motion, which seeks to raise the sentence limit to maximum 30 years, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the rotan, would open a floodgate to allow the implementation of hudud in all the states.

Masing who is also PRS president said his party opposed the Bill based on the principle of harmonious co- existence.

“We oppose any attempts of extremism, religious bigotry and baseless acquisition that will become a threat to the unity of this beloved nation,” said Masing.

Masing pointed out that the decision made by PRS pertaining to their MPs not supporting the Act 355 was based on a collective and consensus decision made during the party`s Supreme Council Meeting, and it was not a decision made solely by himself as the party president.

“Without any doubt that our MPs may not have the commanding voice in the Parliament, however, we stand firm to make a statement that our legal system shall be based on the secular laws and Syariah Laws shall be confined to state affairs only, as per stipulated initially under the Constitution of Malaysia,” he stressed.

Masing reiterated the stand taken by his party was similar to the one adopted by the State BN component parties.

Meanwhile, Masing also took a swipe at some prominent individuals who were using the social media to hit out at State leaders who were against Act 355 and described them as `Syok Sendiri’.