Johor gov't supports proposal to amend Act 355: Religious exco

JOHOR BARU: The Johor government supports the proposed amendment of the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 or Act 355 as it perceived the matter to be necessary in ensuring that crimes concerning the Muslim community can be curbed.
The chairman of the Johor State Religious Committee Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim said that Act 355 would not influence the non-Muslims and they should not fear the implementation of the Act.
"The proposed amendment does not jeopardise the rights of the non-Muslims, so why should they be afraid?
"It is more towards regulations that have been stipulated by the state government based on existing legal provisions. So, we want to improve the existing provisions," he said when met by reporters after officiating the Carnival on Syariah Compliant Management Technology at the Politeknik Metro Johor Baru, here today.
He disclosed this when asked to comment on the Gathering 355 held at the federal capital, yesterday, aimed at briefing the Muslims on the proposed amendment to the act.
On Nov 24 last year, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi presented the Private Bill namely the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill 2016 at the Dewan Rakyat to empower the syariah courts in imposing criminal sentences. — Bernama