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Dr Ahmad Zahid, who chaired the briefing, arrived some 15 minutes after it began at 5pm, only to leave the meeting room 10 minutes later.<\/p>\nPrivate Member\u2019s Bill to enhance punishments in syariah courts by PAS president Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang, which was deferred from May, will re-emerge this week.<\/p>\n
The Bill, will be read out for the second time this week.<\/p>\n
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Bill would include \u201cseveral tweaks\u201d that Ustaz Abdul Hadi had read out for the first time during the Parliament meeting in May.
\nThis was revealed following a closed-door special briefing for Muslim lawmakers on the Bill\u2019s proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 \u2013 also known as Act 355 \u2013 in Parliament yesterday.<\/p>\n
Dr Ahmad Zahid, who chaired the briefing, arrived some 15 minutes after it began at 5pm, only to leave the meeting room 10 minutes later.<\/p>\n
Minister in the Prime Minister\u2019s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, who is in charge of Islamic affairs, then briefed the lawmakers present. Dr Ahmad Zahid rejoined the meeting at around 5.55pm.<\/p>\n
Several MPs who attended the briefing said there were some initial disagreements over the Bill as many felt they had been left in the dark on the issue.<\/p>\n
A Barisan MP from Sabah said there was \u201cvery little\u201d information on the ground on the Bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe now have to talk to our Chief Minister and inform him. I think people will accept it because it is an improvement to the current Act. Nothing to indicate hudud,\u201d the lawmaker told The Star.<\/p>\n
Kuantan PKR lawmaker Fuziah Salleh said the focus of the Bill was to increase the punishments under Act 355.<\/p>\n
\u201cI pushed for a Parliamentary Select Committee. I spoke about the principle of universal justice. When we empower syariah courts, we must ensure the rights of the non-Muslims are also upheld.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the moment, they only spoke about punishments. I don’t see that as empowering the syariah courts. It is very shallow,” she said.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Fuziah said she also spoke about the inclusion of non-Muslim MPs in the briefing process as they also represent Muslim constituents.<\/p>\n