Support Act 355 or face rejection in GE14 - Muslim NGOs

A group of Muslim NGOs told lawmakers to support PAS president, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill or face rejection at the next general election.

Ummat Secretariat, representing some 500 Muslim groups, said they will campaign against Muslim members of parliament who are not in favour of Abdul Hadi's motion to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 or better known as Act 355.

Chairman Aminuddin Yahaya said MPs will be given the ultimatum to support the bill.

"I want to stress that we will list down the names of MPs who do not support the bill. InsyaAllah, we will campaign at their constituencies and explain why they were against strengthening Islamic law."

"Why then should these MPs sit in Parliament? Why should we choose them? So, we will go to their constituencies. We are giving them the ultimatum to support the bill. There is no reason for them to prevent it," Aminuddin told reporters in front of Parliament building today.

Around 50 members from Ummat gathered in front of Parliament to express support for the proposed amendments to Act 355.

Aminuddin added that the group is willing to become the 'middle person' to explain (the proposed amendments) to MPs, particularly from DAP and MCA.

On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysians should not oppose the move to amend Act 355 without first understanding it.

He also said that the proposed amendments serve only to empower the Islamic legal system in Malaysia.