Kelantan state exco member believes RUU355 won't pass Parliament

GEORGE TOWN: A member of the PAS-led Kelantan government is of the view that the amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 will not be passed in Parliament.

Kelantan Human Development, Education and Higher Education Committee chairman Datuk Fadzli Hassan said he believes the party may not get the simple majority of 112 votes to pass the bill popularly known as RUU355.

While urging Muslim lawmakers to support the proposed amendments, he however said he cannot force them.

Speaking at a forum on the proposed amendments on Saturday night at the YMCA hall here, the party Central Working Committee (CWC) member also said those who do not support the bill, including their families, should not be criticised or penalised.

“We practice democracy in Malaysia, we respect them but I know some PAS members will criticise those who do not support," he added..

The bill was tabled by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang last year with the aim to increase the penalties which fall under Syariah law.

The move drew widespread criticism from non-Muslims and liberal Muslims, with many labelling it a prelude to Hudud and dubbed it the Hudud Bill.

Fadzli also said PAS would continue to table the private bill and it is up to the Speaker to allow it to be debated.

Earlier, Kelantan Federal Hudud Technical Committee member Ahmad Jailani Abdul Ghani stressed that the bill will not affect non-Muslims.

“We respect the non-Muslims rights for religious freedom and practices, therefore we hope you all (non-Muslims) will allow us to practise our Quran and Hadith,” he said.