PAS urged to establish task force to explain private member's Bill

The PAS Central Committee has been urged to establish a task force to explain to members of parliament, state assemblymen and the Senate so that they can fully understand the motion behind the Private Member's Bill Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdictions) (Amendment) 2016, which was submitted to the Dewan Rakyat on May 26.

Dewan Ulama vice-chairman Senator Datuk Dr Johari Mat, in tabling the motion also proposed that the central committee hold a series of dialogues with non-Muslim political parties and other civil society organisations to make them aware that the proposed amendments only touched on Muslim rights according to the tenets of their religion, in accordance with Article 3 and Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.

"Call on Muslim NGOs to be in the frontline to support the efforts initiated by PAS for a more comprehensive Syariah implementation as required in Clause 5 of the PAS constitution," he said when tabling the motion at the 55th PAS Dewan Ulama Muktamar, Tuesday.

Dr Johari also urged religious administrative agencies such as the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), Mufti departments and the Islamic Dakwah Foundation of Malaysia (Yadim) to explain to the people on syariah obligation and its benefits in Malaysia.

He said the motion was submitted following negative feedback from various quarters, especially the non-Muslim political parties after PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang tabled the private bill on May 26.

The motion was passed unanimously by the delegates and it will be brought to the 62nd PAS Muktamar which will be held for two days starting tomorrow, at Pusat Tarbiyah Islamiah Kelantan, Pengkalan Chepa in Kota Baharu.

In KOTA BAHARU, PAS Youth chief Nik Muhammad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz warned the DAP against 'playing with fire' in respect of the bill.

He said the motion was in relation to the affairs of the Muslims which should be respected by the party.

"The crime committed may involve non-Muslims so non-Muslims are also protected with this amendment," he told reporters at 57th PAS Youth Muktamar.

Meanwhile, a PAS Youth delegate, Mohd Ariff Abdullah said Syariah law was not new in this country as it had been practised during the Malacca Sultanate.

He said each state had its own Syariah law before the country gained independence, which was slowly scraped off by the colonialists.

Mohd Ariff, who is Pengkalan Chepa PAS Youth chief said this when debating the keynote address by the PAS Youth chief.

Meanwhile, Kelantan Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad reminded all parties to clearly understand the bill before making any conclusion.

He said the matter should not be politicised but instead be supported by all Muslims as it would eventually elevate Syariah Courts nationwide.

PAS vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said the issue over the bill had been played up by DAP, MIC, MCA and Gerakan, adding that the parties were over-reacting to attract non-Malay votes and support.