Hudud: UMNO lawmakers to vote with conscience, says Shahrir

Muslim lawmakers from Umno will vote with conscience if PAS tables the private member’s bill for the implementation of hudud in Kelantan.

Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad said as this was a matter of faith and religion, Umno had not given any directive to its elected representatives, thus they have to decide for themselves.

"It will have to be a matter of a vote of conscience and will be up to the conscience of every member of parliament who is a Muslim to decide.

"Conscience also includes what's best for the people and country and not what is best for yourself because you represent the people," he told reporters at the Dewan Rakyat lobby here today.

The Pas-led Kelantan Government tabled the Syariah Criminal Code II 1993 (Amendment 2015) which is better known as 'Hudud', at the State Legislative Assembly sitting today.

Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob said the bill also amended Section 15(2) of the Syariah Criminal Code (II) by adding the provision for the 'takzir' penalty for sodomy offences on the wife.

It also amended Section 46 by omitting provision 46(2) on 'qarinah' or adultery for women becoming pregnant without a husband, he said.

On a matter whether Umno would lend support to PAS in order to form a simple majority, Shahrir, who is also Johor Baharu member of parliament said: "We are not robotic, we don't always say this is the party line, we must take into consideration what the people's interests are."