NAJIB HELPING ULAMA DUPE PAS GRASSROOTS - AGAIN? Hadi’s hudud Bill back on but debate unlikely

KUALA LUMPUR - PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill to enable the implementation of hudud in Kelantan has made it back on the day's agenda in today's Dewan Rakyat session.

The Bill to amend Section 2 of the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) is not likely to witness debate, however, as it is last on the list of 12 other government bills and 15 motions from other parliamentary lawmakers on today's order paper.

By convention, government bills take precedence over other parliamentary matters.

Hadi’s Private Member's Bill first appeared on the order paper during the April sitting but the matter was deferred to the next session due to a lack of time.

The Marang MP had filed notice on the Bill to Parliament on March 18, a day before the Kelantan state assembly approved the Shariah Criminal Code (II) (1993) 2015 Enactment on hudud.

The Bill is necessary because in order for PAS-led Kelantan to enforce the controversial Islamic penal code in the state, the federal law governing the powers of the Shariah Court on punishments under hudud must be amended.

Hadi’s Bill seeks to amend Section 2 of the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 by replacing the existing provision on the subject of the Shariah Court's jurisdiction over a person professing the religion of Islam.

The objective of the amendment is to empower the Shariah Court's jurisdiction and powers to pass sentences to Muslims in the state.

The thorny subject of hudud is one of the key causes of the ongoing war between Pakatan Rakyat (PR) allies PAS and DAP, which yesterday led to the latter party declaring the pact dead.

The declaration by DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng followed PAS's decision during its muktamar on June 6 to sever ties with its ally while still remaining in PR with PKR. - Malay Mail