PRS and SUPP remain against any move to amend Syariah Court Act 1965

PETALING JAYA: Two Sarawak based Barisan Nasional (BN) parties reiterated their stand that they would not support the Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355).
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) said they would not change their stand against the amendments to extend the jurisdiction on the Syariah Court although the federal government will take over the Bill.
They made their stand known again following a statement by Umno supreme council member Datuk Ahmad Maslan that all BN MPs should support the Bill to amend the Act.
SUPP president Senator Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian and PRS secretary general Joseph Salang Gandum pointed out that Ahmad was not a BN supreme council member and had no authority to make the statement on behalf of the ruling coalition.
Sim and Joseph Salang added that the matter should be discussed in a BN supreme council meeting and the component parties must unanimously agree to compel all their MPs to support the Bill.
Ahmad who is also the Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister had said during the Umno Overseas Club annual general meeting last Sunday that BN component parties were compelled to support the amendments to the Bill after it was taken over by the Federal Government.
"Umno cannot just force the issue down our throat. This is not in accordance to the BN constitution," JosephSalang said on Tuesday.
Clause 13 of the BN Constitution states that "decisions at meeting of the supreme council shall be by unanimity except decisions taken under Articles 15 and 22 which shall be by majority vote in which case each member party shall have one vote." (Article 15 is about discipline and Article 22 is on interpretation of rules).
"BN will convene its next supreme council meeting in January next," he said.
Sim, who is also the state Local Government Minister, reminded Ahmad to be cautious when making public statements.
Sim said SUPP would object to amendments which violate the Federal Constitution.
He added that the amendments should also take into consideration the multiracial and multi-religious nature of our nation.
PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had proposed the amendments to Act 355 which seeks to enhance the punishment meted out by the Syariah Courts.