MPs: Social media turned Act 355 into hudud bill
Minister Jamil Khir Baharom reiterates that Act 355 is not a back door to hudud and is only meant to enhance punishments accorded to shariah courts.
Barisan Nasional’s component parties are to blame for the misconception that PAS’ proposed amendments to the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, also known as Act 355, is a guise for hudud.
This was stated by PAS Secretary-General Takiyuddin Hassan at a forum centred on discussions over the proposed amendments which seek to strengthen the shariah courts.
“The MCA president, Gerakan and MIC, in their statements in response to the proposal brought by Marang MP (PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang), did not refer to it as Act 355, but as the Hudud Bill instead.
“To say the amendments are meant for hudud is not right as hudud does not need to be taken to Parliament.
“It’s a state matter,” he said at a forum held at Media Karangkraf Complex here today.
Besides Takiyuddin, the forum also featured Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom, DAP’s Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw, and MCA Shariah Law and Policy Implementation Special Task Force Chairman Gan Ping Sieu.
Jamil, a minister in charge of Islamic affairs, agreed and said the amendments will not include new offences.
It will only empower the shariah courts, allowing them to impose stiffer punishments for offences already listed in the current Act.
“The current law allows shariah courts to mete out prison sentences of a maximum of three years, a RM5,000 fine and six strokes of the cane.
“But there is a need to change the law, especially as the last amendment was made in 1984.
