S’wak BN to block hudud

> Adenan Satem orders MPs to oppose Private Member’s Bill in Parliament

PETALING JAYA: Sarawak Barisan Nasional MPs have been ordered to oppose the Private Member’s Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.

In revealing this yesterday, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem had issued the order.

Sim said state BN component parties would not support the Bill, that will be read out a second time in Parliament today. He said the Bill was not in the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963, adding that his party had always been against the Bill.

Sim said Adenan had made it clear that his party, Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), will not support the Bill, adding that Sarawak is a multi-racial state and Muslims constitute only 25% of the population.

Speaking at a press conference after the state legislative assembly, Sim said all state BN component parties are united in the matter.

He said SUPP did not agree to having two criminal justice systems as it contradicts the Federal Constitution and affects the rights and lifestyle of all Malaysians.

SUPP and BN Sarawak are stepping up to lead the nation back to the original spirit of secularism in the formation of Malaysia, he added.

Sim also said any steps and policies to advance the implementation of hudud would divide the nation.

The motion to table the amended Bill in Parliament was moved by Marang MP and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Sim pointed out that although the Kelantan state legislative assembly had passed the amendment of Kelantan’s Syariah Criminal Code 1993 last year, it could not enforce it due to the existing Act, hence the Private Member’s Bill.

The Bill seeks to amend the Act to empower Islamic courts to enforce punishment, except for the death penalty, provided under syariah laws for Islamic offences listed under state jurisdiction in the Federal Constitution.