MCA to voice opposition to PAS Bill at meeting

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA will convey its strong stand against the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act or RUU 355, brought by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, at the Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting today.

Party president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said any law and policy made must not go against the spirit of the Federal Constitution.

“We will state our stand as well as the will of the Chinese community at the meeting.

“All policy issues are always discussed at Barisanlevel meetings and consensus among its component parties is crucial,” he said yesterday.

He was responding to questions by the media whether MCA would raise the RUU 355 issue at the Barisan supreme council meeting to be held tonight.

Liow stressed that MCA was against the Private Member’s Bill, tabled by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang last year.

“Our bottom line is very clear, any amendment has to conform to the Federal Constitution,” he told reporters after chairing the party’s presidential council meeting at Wisma MCA here yesterday.

The RUU355 issue became a topic of debate yet again after Deputy Prime Minister and Umno vicepresident Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Putrajaya was commit ted to tabling the Bill to enhance the powers of the syariah court. He, however, did not reveal any details.

Liow said MCA had held a dialogue with representatives from Chinese associations and guilds recently.

He added that MCA as well as the Chinese community would oppose any Bill that goes against the Federal Constitution, whether it is tabled by Umno, Cabinet ministers or any other party.

Asked on a suggestion by the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah for MCA and DAP to sit together and discuss the issue, Liow said DAP had lost its moral standing.

DAP, Liow said, was the Opposition party that had empowered PAS by tricking Chinese voters into supporting the Islamist party in the general election.

Liow insisted that DAP must first issue an apology to the Chinese community.