Federation’s push against Hadi’s bill

THE Federation of Hokkien Associations of Malaysia’s “Strongly oppose syariah criminal law, uphold Federation Constitution” campaign garnered more than one million signatures late last year.

According to a report in Sin Chew Daily yesterday, the federation has submitted a memo- randum on the campaign to all MPs but have yet to receive their response.

Federation president Tan Sri Khoo Chai Kaa said elected representatives are duty-bound to accede to the people’s request to stop PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355).

Speaking to the media at the federation’s premises in Petaling Jaya on Wednesday, Khoo disclosed that the million-signature campaign, which was launched last July, had received the signatures of 1,008,133 individuals, and the endorsements of 111 national-level non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and 1,122 state or district-level NGOs by Oct 10.

Warning that the passing of Hadi’s bill will impact the Constitution and Malaysia’s secular democracy, Khoo urged MPs to respect public opinion and vote against the Act in Parliament.

“The bill, once passed, will affect people’s lives and social peace or even our economy as investors shun the country,” he said.

Pointing out that Hadi’s bill to enhance the powers of syariah courts is listed in the Order Papers for the current Parliament session, which began on Monday, he said the greatest crisis in 60 years that has given the Chinese community the jitters is “right here”.