Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 24): The motion to amend the Syariah law and increase the Syariah Court's power has been postponed to the next Parliamentary session, after Marang member of Parliament Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang made amendments to it.

Hadi, who is also president of Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), stated at Dewan Rakyat today, more details of amendments he wishes to make on the Malaysian Syariah law.

His motion, or more commonly known as RUU 355 (Rang Undang Undang 355), will enhance the Syariah Court's power in terms of fine (not more than RM100,000), imprisonment (capped at 30 years) and whipping (100 lashes maximum).

However, the Syariah Court remains unable to intervene or determine affairs currently being heard in the Civil Court in future.

The reviewed motion today is more specific, as compared with the open-ended one which Hadi Awang filed earlier on, which merely proposed to enhance Syariah Court's criminal jurisdiction power, except for the death penalty.

Since today is the last day of the current Parliamentary session, Hadi Awang proposed hearing of this motion in the next Parliamentary session, which would likely be in March next year.

Nevertheless, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who is also president of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), said the party's stance remains the same and that it will continue rejecting this motion.

"There were more details this time, but from what I look at just now, it is still not [in] accord with the Federal Constitution," he said, without further elaboration.

Liow also opined at the current stage, Hadi Awang's motion is unlikely to affect foreign investors' confidence.

"I don't think it would (affect foreign direct investment) now, as the Speaker explained just now, the motion is not even the first reading," he said.

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