Reject RUU355, says former Court of Appeal judge

KUALA LUMPUR: A former Court of Appeal judge has urged the country to reject the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (RUU355). It will not be accepted by most Malaysians and it also contradicts the Federal Constitution, he said.
Datuk Seri Mohd Hishamudin Yunus said it would contravene the Constitution's Article 3 that states: "Islam is the religion of the Federation, but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation".
He added that Hudud law, as prescribed in Kelantan (2015), contradicts Article 8.
Hishamudin also noted that Malaysia is a secular country, quoting former Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, who said, "I would like to make it clear that this country is not an Islamic state as it is generally understood, we merely provided that Islam shall be the religion of the State."
Mohd Hishamudin was speaking in a forum here today which was organised by Sisters in Islam (SIS).
The proposed amendment, also known as RUU 355, was deferred to the next Parliament sitting in July.