Hudud: PAS hopes private bill motion makes it to Parliament

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia is currently examining the proposal of the private member's bill to amend Shariah Court Act (criminal jurisdiction) 1965 that will be brought by PAS, said Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan.

The Kota Bharu MP said PAS expects the private member's bill motion to be presented in Parliament this time around.

"The Speaker gave us an indication that he's going to raise the motion in a meeting and it's up to him when to do it.

"I hope he pull through because to me, it (hudud) is neither sensitive nor controversial to any party," he told newsmen at Parliament lobby yesterday.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said hudud implementation must be in line with the Constitution and existing laws to ensure just and fair judgment.

"The implementation of Islamic law should only be applicable to Muslims in order to maintain stability and national harmony,” he said in a written answer to Tanjong MP, Ng Wei Aik.

In his question, Ng had asked the Cabinet's stand on the enactment of hudud in Kelantan, as well as the private member's bill to amend the Shariah Court Act, submitted by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Commenting on PAS’desire to amend the Act which would pave the way for hudud implementation, Jamil said the government is aware of the proposed bill made during the first meeting of the third term of the 13th Parliament session.

He also said the government strives to uphold shariah justice.

This, he said, includes extending the power of the Shariah Court, upgrading the judicial system of shariah, revising the position of shariah judge and strengthens the position of the prosecution in court.