Hadi’s Hudud Bill just leads to Hudud for all at the end of the day!

PAS ready to explain Hadi’s Bill to detractors, deputy says

KOTA BARU, May 31 — As more leaders across the divide express outrage over Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Members’ Bill, PAS offered today to explain the matter to all those against it.

The Islamist party’s deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man in his speech at the launch of PAS Youth’s 57th Muktamar here stressed that PAS was not forcing anyone to support the Bill, which detractors have dubbed the “hudud Bill”.

“But we want Muslim MPs to understand that it is their responsibility to support this Bill,” he told delegates gathered at the Kelantan Trade Centre.

Hadi’s Bill seeking amendments to the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 or Act 355 made a surprise appearance in the Dewan Rakyat last Thursday after Umno minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said tabled a motion to expedite it.

The motion was approved by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia but Hadi later requested for the Bill to be deferred for debate at the October parliamentary meeting.

Since then, non-Muslim politicians from both Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional (BN) have lashed out at both PAS and Umno, with some even accusing the ruling party of colluding with PAS to push for the implementation of hudud.

Both PAS and Umno have insisted, however, that Hadi’s Bill was not a hudud Bill but simply a Bill seeking amendments that would upgrade the Shariah courts’ powers to hand out harsher sentences.

Acknowledging that protests were also made by leaders of BN components MCA, MIC and Gerakan, Tuan Ibrahim asked today why these politicians failed to react the same way when the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy was making media headlines.

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong, and MIC president Datuk Seri S Subramaniam have all threatened to resign from the Cabinet if Hadi’s Bill is passed by Parliament.

“They have threatened to resign. But why did they not threaten to resign over 1MDB? Why did they not threaten to resign over cost of living issues?” Tuan Ibrahim asked.

“Why did they not voice out when it came to issues concerning the rakyat? They should not be stopping the right of Muslims to practice their teaching,” he added.

The Bill seeks to empower Shariah courts to enforce punishments ― except for the death penalty ― provided in Shariah laws for Islamic offences listed under state jurisdiction in the Federal Constitution, without elaborating on the nature of the punishments.

Shariah court punishments are currently limited to jail terms not exceeding three years, or whipping of not more than six strokes, or fines of not more than RM5,000.

Hadi’s Hudud Bill just leads to Hudud for all at the end of the day! Which Islamic country in the world that has 2 sets of law - one for Muslims and one for non-Muslims = NONE!