MCA objects to Hadi’s Bill at BN meeting

Matter raised during supreme council meeting to stress priority given to govt Bills

We know that it is a Private Member’s Bill and not a Government Bill, which should be given priority. Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA has raised objection to PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s Bill to be tabled for debate in Parliament next month.

Party president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the matter was raised by MCA during the Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting as a reminder that Government Bills should take precedent over Private Bills.

“We know that it is a Private Member’s Bill and not a Government Bill, which should be given priority,” he told reporters after the meeting here yesterday.

Although MCA was against the tabling of the Bill, deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said Barisan would make a collective stand on the matter in due time.

In May, Hadi's Private Member’s Bill was listed as number 15 or the last item on the Standing Order, behind Government Bills.

However, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said moved a motion to push Hadi’s Bill up the Standing Order’s list.

The move drew objections from several lawmakers, arguing that they were given insufficient time to scrutinise the Bill.

However, Hadi stunned lawmakers when he requested that the Bill be debated at the next meeting.

This was Hadi’s third attempt since last year to pushing for amendments to Syariah laws to allow Syariah Courts in Kelantan to impose stiffer punishments, except the death penalty, for Islamic offences, without elaborating on the nature of the punishments.

Syariah Court punishments are currently limited to jail terms not exceeding three years, or whipping of not more than six strokes, or fines of not more than RM5,000.