MCA to campaign nationwide against PAS' private bill

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA will go on a nationwide campaign urging the public to protest against the passing of PAS' private member's bill on hudud in the next Parliament sitting scheduled in October.
Party president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (pix) explained that it is high time to inform the public and society the seriousness of the problem everyone would face if the bill is passed.
"This is not any ordinary topic nor is it an issue of economy or education, this is something related to the very foundation of the nation's institution and the the nation's future way forward.
"Therefore, MCA will embark on a campaign with the main priority of calling everyone to defend the Federal Constitution," Liow told reporters after chairing a special
MCA briefing involving the party's central, Wanita and Youth leaders from all levels.
Liow said it was only the Federal Constitution that safeguards everyone's rights in this multi-diverse society.
"We cannot allow an amendment to any Act to destroy the very foundation of the spirit of the Federal Constitution.
"At the same time, I also call upon the support of MPs from both sides of the political divide to vote against this Bill, to come together to stop it for it is in conflict with the Federal Constitution," Liow said.
Although the Bill might have nothing to do with hudud as explained by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, Liow said its scope was wide enough to give PAS the power to impose hudud punishment in Kelantan as well as give the syariah court in Kelantan the same powers as civil courts.
"If that happens then it means the nation would have two parallel legal systems, which contradicts the Federal Constitution as according to its Article 8, all
Malaysians should be subjected to one legal system and are equal in the eyes of the law," he said.
Asked if MCA would leave Barisan Nasional in the event the bill is passed, Liow said the party would not do so because it did no wrong but was merely defending the Federal Constitution.
Meanwhile, in MIRI, Bernama reported the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) wants all parties not to jump to conclusion over the proposed amendment to enhance the syariah courts' jurisdiction tabled at the Dewan Rakyat recently.
SPDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the Private Member's Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act tabled by Marang MP and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang on May 26 should not be a subject of baseless speculations without giving Hadi the chance to give detailed explaination on the proposed amendments.
"He (Hadi) still needs to table the bill for further readings, if the members in the house find the amendments are against the interests of Muslims or it is imposed on non-Muslims, definitely the house will not allow the bill to be passed," he said in a statement here today.