Despite a court tussle challenging PAS’ Private Member’s Bill, it has been listed again in the parliamentary order paper.
The Private Members Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 — also known as RUU355 — was listed on Tuesday as the fourth item on the list, behind three government Bills, for second reading and debate.
However, it remains unclear whether RUU355 will see the light of the day.
Moderation advocate Mohamed Tawfik Ismail had claimed that it would be sub judice and contempt of court if PAS’ Private Member’s Bill is tabled in the this parliamentary meeting.
Last March, Tawfik had filed an application seeking to declare the Private Member’s Bill, better known as RUU355, as unconstitutional and that it flouted Parliament procedures.
The Bill seeks to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 to give syariah courts the power to mete out harsher punishments.
Mohamed Tawfik had named Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia and Dewan Rakyat secretary Datuk Roosme Hamzah as defendants in his suit.
On Feb 22 this year, the High Court denied Pandikar Amin’s bid to strike out the suit – thestaronline
