I will resign if Pas Private Members Bill passed - Liow

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai today said that he will resign as a minister and from the Cabinet post if Pas’ Private Member’s Bill is passed in Parliament.

However he hopes it does not have to come to that and called on parties from both sides of the political divide to vote down the Bill.

“I’m trying to stop it. I’m trying to get all the component parties to stop it. I am urging both sides of the political divide to come together and stop this Bill,’’ he said as reported by The Star.

“If we cannot do it, we will have to sacrifice. I will resign.

“No point for me to stay on anymore, you know. I have to be very firm on this. I was thinking of saying this in the press conference yesterday (Friday),” the Transport Minister added.

READ: Private Member's Bill tabled by Hadi Awang not hudud - Najib

READ: MCA against any bill that will grant powers to impose Hudud in Malaysia - Liow

READ: 'Keep the 3-6-5 Safeguards within Act 355'

On Thursday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said tabled a motion to expedite the tabling of Hadi’s private member’s Bill in Parliament to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.

However, Hadi requested it to be deferred for debate at the next parliamentary meeting in October.

The proposed amendment to Act 355 was among others aimed at strengthening the existing jurisdictions of the Syariah courts in line with current developments.

It also to allow the Kelantan Pas state government to impose Syariah punishment for crimes, except death sentences.