Act 355: Lawmakers should respect Dewan Rakyat Speaker's decision - Azalina

All members of Parliament should respect the Standing Orders and rulings of Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to ensure smooth proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said this was because Pandikar Amin had allowed Marang MP Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to table the amended Private Member's Bill, based on the parliamentary Standing Orders.

"In view of the amendments being all-encompassing, the adjournment under Standing Order 15(5) was allowed.

"This means that the motion of the Marang MP has not gone through the first reading. Standing Order 28 allows the motion for a Private Member's Bill to be amended," she said in a statement today.

Hadi had in the Dewan Rakyat today, tabled the motion on the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill 2016. It seeks to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 or known as Act 355.

In May, Hadi had tabled the same motion but it was tabled again today after it had been tweaked.

Azalina said the Private Member's Bill was different from the Bill tabled by the government, with a minister required to give notice one day earlier.

"After the named Bill is read by the Dewan Rakyat secretary in the House, it is regarded as having gone through the first reading," she said.

Azalina said the amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 were aimed at enhancing the jurisdiction of the syariah courts in passing sentence. --Bernama