BN parties can’t object to Shariah Bill once Putrajaya takes it over?

KUALA LUMPUR - Deputy minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan claimed today that Barisan Nasional (BN) components are compelled to support PAS’s proposal to upgrade the Shariah courts when it becomes a government Bill.

In a report by Malaysiakini, the Pontian MP said the BN parties had objected to the private member’s Bill since it was tabled by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

“Before this we hear that MCA didn’t like [the planned amendments] to Act 355. MIC objected, and Gerakan objected too,” the Umno Supreme Council member was quoted saying during the Umno Overseas Club annual general meeting here.

“When we asked them why they opposed, the answered ‘How can we not? [The Bill] was brought by Hadi’.”

In a separate report, Umno’s Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom had told the same meeting that the ruling coalition did not choose to table the Bill itself since it would have to go through procedures that also included achieving consensus from all 14 states.

Therefore, the minister in charge of Islamic affairs said the government had instead let Hadi table a private member’s Bill to amend the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, also known as Act 355, since it would not be subject to the same requirements.

“Why [Hadi’s] Private Member’s Bill? Why didn’t the government table it directly? Because we have restrictions, our standard operating procedures,” Jamil was quoted saying.

“If the government brought the Bill, we need a consensus from 14 states brought to the cabinet, then to the National Islamic Council and then to the Rulers’ Conference.

“You can’t bring it to the Rulers’ Conference if you don’t have consensus from 14 states, but a private member’s bill requires only one state or one person to table it,” he added.

Hadi read out his motion on the revised Bill in Parliament in late November, but deferred explaining bill to the next Parliamentary meeting, due in March next year.

Should the Dewan Rakyat voted for the Bill, it would then be tabled as a Government’s Bill by a minister, most likely Jamil.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak then pledged at the Umno general assembly that Putrajaya will take up the Bill, and the decision was reached following discussions with the Islamist PAS.

Jamil had previously been reported promising that he will oversee the Bill “until its end”.

Umno previously extended various support to Hadi in his efforts to increase the punishments available to the Shariah courts, including elevating his motion above government matters and conducting a special briefing by the deputy prime minister for all Muslim MPs.