PUTRAJAYA: Four Barisan Nasional component parties have made it clear that they cannot support “any Bill which is vague, uncertain and which can lend itself to great inconsistency, injustice and inequality in its application to Malaysians of any community.”
The four are MCA, MIC, Gerakan and SUPP.
“A cornerstone of unity and harmony amongst the various ethnic groups and creeds for a country such as Malaysia must be anchored on fairness, equality, consistency and uniformity of laws and this must extend to the enforcement of such laws and the form of punishment,” said the four component parties in a joint press statement.
MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai read out the joint statement in a press conference held after the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday.
Liow said the parties were disappointed that the controversial Bill was pushed forward.
He added the decision to expedite the Private Member’s Bill on the amendment of Syariah Court laws was not discussed among Barisan Nasional parties.
“We are saddened by the current events where the PAS MP for Marang Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s Bill was permitted to be tabled for debate by elevating it above government matters.
“We are also disappointed by the fact that this matter was not discussed within the Cabinet or the Barisan Nasional supreme council,” said Liow.
He was flanked by Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, SUPP deputy president Datuk Seri Richard Riot, MIC vice-president Datuk T. Mohan (representing party president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, who is in Geneva), MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan and MCA religious harmony bureau chairman Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker.
Liow said he had raised the matter in yesterday’s Cabinet meeting and stressed that the Bill went against the Federal Constitution.
He said the Bill seeks to remove the “3-6-5 Safeguards” from the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.
The “3-6-5 Safeguards” provide that any offence punishable under the Syariah Courts is limited to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three years, or whipping of not more than six strokes, or fine of not more than RM5,000.
“This is in the interest of the consistency and uniformity with our laws.
“What Hadi’s Private Member’s Bill is attempting to do right now is to dismantle all of these. If the Bill in its current form is passed, it is against the spirit of the Constitution,” said Liow.
He said by removing the “3-6-5 Safeguards”, the authorities can enact any form of punishment, except the death penalty.
“While Hadi has told us he will not impose the death penalty, he has not told us what he will impose.
“From what we know, these could be the forms of punishment under hudud, such as public whipping or flogging, amputation and possibly long-term imprisonment,” he said.
Liow added that having two sets of laws for the same offences was a contravention of Article 8 of the Federal Constitution, which provides that punishment must embody some form of equality and consistency.-thestar
