The Private Member’s Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act, also known as RUU355, has appeared in the Dewan Rakyat order paper on Monday, but is unlikely to be brought up this meeting.
The Bill, which was first tabled by PAS president Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang, appeared on the order paper of the latest Parliament sitting on Monday.
However, Government bills take precedence over private member’s bills and it will be up to the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat to decide if debates will resume.
At the last Parliamentary meeting, Kota Baru PAS MP Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan was the sole lawmaker given a chance to speak in support of the Bill.
The Bill, first tabled by Ustaz Abdul Hadi in May last year, seeks to grant syariah courts the power to impose stiffer penalties on all crimes except those with the death sentence.
Marang MP’s proposed amendments to Section 2 of RUU355 seek to increase the current “imprisonment of more than three years or fine of more than RM5,000, or more than six lashes” to “jail term of more than 30 years or fine more than RM100,000 or 100 lashes as administered in line with Syariah crimes”.
In November last year, Dato’ Seri Abdul Hadi read out an amended version of his Bill to empower the Syariah courts to impose stiffer penalties but he deferred it under Standing Order 15(5).
Standing Order 15 states that on every sitting day, Government business shall have precedence over Private Members’ business. – thestar
