Adenan instructs Sarawak BN MPs to oppose Hadi's Bill

KUCHING - Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem has instructed all state Barisan Nasional MPs, including Muslim lawmakers, to oppose the Private Member's Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (RUU355).

Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said state Barisan component parties would not support the Bill that will be read out a second time in Parliament this week.

Dr Sim, together with Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and Tan Sri James Masing, met with Adenan during the state legislative assembly sitting here Wednesday.

Masing is president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) while Abang Johari and Uggah are Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president and senior vice-president respectively.

"SUPP has always opposed the Bill because it is not in the spirit of what we originally signed in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

"The Chief Minister's stand together with Sarawak Barisan on hudud still applies. SUPP has instructed its MPs to oppose the Bill if it comes to a vote.

"All state Barisan component parties are united in this matter," Dr Sim told a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly complex following the meeting.

Sarawak has 31 MPs, comprising 25 from Barisan, five from DAP one from PKR.

"SUPP and BN Sarawak is stepping up to lead the nation back to the original spirit of secularism in the formation of Malaysia.

"Accordingly, SUPP strongly opposes the proposed amendments to Act 355 and views any steps and policies to advance the implementation of hudud to be the culprit for the division of the nation," he continued.

Dr Sim added that the party does not agree with the emergence of two criminal justice systems as it contradicts the Federal Constitution and affects the rights and lifestyles of all Malaysians.

"The Kelantan state legislative assembly had passed the amendment of Kelantan's Syariah Criminal Code 1993 last year but couldn't 'enforce' it due to the existing Act 355. The private member's Bill intends to address that.

"Once again PAS has not only shown blatant disregard to the rights and sentiments of all racial and faith groups within our nation, but has also consistently challenged the spirit of the Federal Constitution for political mileage," he said.

The motion to table RUU355 was moved by Marang MP and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

The current Dewan Rakyat sitting, which started on Oct 17 will end Thursday.