‘Not time yet to vote on hudud’
> Motion first needs House approval, study by select committee, says Zahid
KUCHING: The question of voting for or against the Private Member’s Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 does not arise as yet, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
All quarters should not jump the gun over the Bill, to be brought by PAS president and Marang MP Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, because the process had not reached that stage yet, he said.
According to the Dewan Rakyat order paper, Hadi was scheduled to table a motion yesterday to seek the approval of the House to table the Bill.
Ahmad Zahid said even if that motion was approved, it would not have been debated yesterday because any amendments to legislation comes under the jurisdiction of the government.
In addition, any move towards its acceptance required several steps, none of which could have been done at yesterday’s sitting, he told a press conference that was also attended by Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly building.
He said if the motion was approved, the next step would be for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak to discuss it with all parties, not just within Barisan Nasional.
“Then, a select committee comprising representatives of all political parties, Muslim and non-Muslim MPs must be established.”
Adenan said since there would be no debate or voting, all Sarawak MPs would not make a decision yet.
“We are happy the matter will be brought before a committee. Only then will we come to a final decision.”
Later, Ahmad Zahid received the Darjah Datuk Patinggi Bintang Kenyalang award, which carries the title “Datuk Patinggi”, from Sarawak Yang diPertua Negri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud at Astana Negeri. – Bernama
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