MCA urges Aziz Kaprawi to argue like a lawman, not layman

PETALING JAYA: MCA has advised deputy transport minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi not to show open defiance and disagreement over the proposed amendments to the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 or Act 355 against Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
MCA Religious Harmony Bureau chairman Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker said Abdul Aziz should hear and understand where his (Liow) resistance to the proposed amendments to Act 355 comes from.
"Aziz should be arguing like a lawman and not a layman, and, address the issues raised by Liow and MCA on the implications of removing the cap on the Syariah courts in Act 355.
"There has been many statements and arguments put forth by MCA on the implications and ramifications of the proposed amendments to Act 355 tabled by PAS President Datuk Seri Hadi Awang.
"It will in effect remove the Federal laws' check on state legislatures such as PAS Hudud enactments rendering the latter unconstitutional and in conflict with Federal laws," he said in a statement yesterday.
Ti said Abdul Aziz has given an erroneous impression that Liow is against the amendments, on the contrary, neither Liow nor MCA is against the existing Sections in the current Act 355.
He said instead of rebutting the issues or concerns raised by the MCA on the proposed amendments, Abdul Aziz argument that MCA had supported the existence of Act 355 before is lame.
Ti pointed out that MCA has repeatedly stated that the party upholds and respects Islam as the religion of the federation, nevertheless, MCA is against any amendments to Act 355 or any state enactments which is ultra vires the Federal Constitution.
"MCA is against having two parallel legal systems and punishments for an identical offence when the current Penal Code provides for penalties for criminal offences that may also be present in PAS Enactments in Kelantan or when PAS ruled Terengganu," Ti said.
He said MCA is cautious about the proposed amendments to Act 355 that will be a backdoor for PAS or provide any other political party an opportunity to table another Private Member's Bill seeking full-blown implementation of hudud enactments unto all Malaysians.
Ti called on Aziz Kaprawi to retract the baseless and empty assertions that he made as it unjustly and maliciously disparage Liow and MCA.