Clock ticking for Hadi to table Private Member’s Bill
KUALA LUMPUR: With the Bersih 5 weekend over, all eyes are on the Dewan Rakyat which is slated to pass Budget 2017, barring any attempt by the Opposition to scuttle the move.
There is also the big question looming in this final week of this year’s meeting: Will PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang be able to table his Private Member’s Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act?
In the midst of all this, lawmakers from both sides will surely cross swords over Saturday’s rallies at whatever opportunity available.
Budget 2017, which has seen the YBs debating on it in a gruelling manner, is expected to be passed tomorrow night.
Debates are expected to rage on with a possibility that opposition lawmakers would attempt to thwart its passing through a block vote.
This may see the august house “stopping the clock” to allow debates to continue past midnight tomorrow.
The sittings on Wednesday and Thursday will also be interesting to watch, as these two days have been set aside to deal with other matters and private Bills.
Thus, Abdul Hadi’s motion to table his Private Member’s Bill may just come up for debate.
The Bill could pave the way towards the implementation of hudud in Kelantan.
The Marang MP had made previous attempts to table it but to no success.
In May, however, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said moved a motion for his Bill to be debated, which made headlines in the media.
Subsequently, Abdul Hadi requested that the matter be deferred to the next meeting, which is the current proceedings.
PAS lawmakers voiced optimism that the Bill would be tabled, although Azalina indicated otherwise.
She said there might be insufficient time as priority would be given to Government Bills and motions.
As of now, Hadi’s Bill is listed as item No. 9 on the Order Paper.
This may also be the last week that Parliament sits in the temporary Dewan because renovation work on the original Dewan is expected to be completed in January.