‘Syariah laws need to be updated’
‘NORMAL PROCESS’: Islamic group urges not to politicise proposed bill to amend Act 355
THE proposed amendment to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) should not be politicised as it is a normal process of the law.
Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia president Dr Yusri Mohamad said Act 355 had been amended in 1984 and, in 1989, the act was expanded to Sabah and Sarawak.
“The empowering of the syariah courts was done in 1984. The new amendment is long overdue, and it is as simple as that,” he said after a closed-door discussion with the New Straits Times Press Bhd (NSTP)’s senior management here yesterday.
NSTP was represented by nonexecutive chairman Tan Sri Ismail New Straits Times Press Bhd non-executive chairman (third from right) with ( from left) Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia president PMO senior researcher
Tuan Umar, Islamic Institute for Strategic Studies general manager officer Mohd Gunawan Che Ab Aziz and Ummat chairman in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Pic by Yazit Razali
Omar, chief executive officer Datuk Mohammad Azlan Abdullah, group managing editor Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid, Harian Metro group editor Datuk Mustapa Omar, Berita Harian deputy group editor Datuk Badrulhisham Othman and NST deputy group editor Yushaimi Yahaya.
Present were representatives from Muslim non-governmental organisations, including Ummat chairman Aminuddin Yahya, Islamic Institute for Strategic Studies general manager Dr Mohd Fauzi Shaffie, special officer in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Mohd Gunawan Che Ab Aziz and PMO senior researcher Tuan
PMO special after a meeting at Balai Berita
Asmawi Tuan Umar.
Yusri said the 1984 amendment to the Muslim Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 was to allow the courts to mete out punishment to any offence with imprisonment for a maximum term of three years, or a RM5,000 fine, and six strokes of the rotan.
In 1989, the act was expanded to Sabah and Sarawak, and was named Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment and Extension) Act 1989.
“Syariah laws need to be updated from time to time so they are more effective and not outdated.
“Unfortunately, this issue has lost its focus and is seen as controversial, when it is just a matter of empowering syariah courts and improving the laws,” Yusri said.
He added that it should not matter who presented the bill, and stressed the issue should not be politicised.
Yusri said the amendment would not affect non-Muslims.
“Non-Muslims need not worry about these amendments because it would not affect them. Those who should be afraid are Muslim wrongdoers.”
The bill, proposed by Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, will be read for the second time in the March 2017 Dewan Rakyat sitting by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
Through the bill, Hadi proposed to increase the punishment under the act to a maximum of 30 years imprisonment, or a RM100,000 fine, and 100 strokes of the rotan.