Amanah to support Hudud Bill if it benefits Islam, says Khalid Samad

KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) will support the Private Member’s Bill on hudud if it brings benefits to Islam, said communications director Khalid Samad.

Khalid said he was among those who had previously suggested amendments to strengthen the Syariah jurisdiction instead of introducing hudud laws.

“We are an Islamic party and anything that would benefit Islam we will support.

“It was not presented today but anything the brings benefit of Islam we will support,” the Shah Alam MP told reporters at Parliament lobby.

Khalid, however, slammed PAS for failing to execute the tabling of the bill properly.

“It should have been done better rather than leaving it hanging like this in the last minute.

“Now we don't know if it will be brought up in the next meeting. I mean if you want to debate it in the next meeting then just bring it up in the next meeting, why bring it up now?," he said.

He said PAS and the ruling government should explain the need to rush the tabling of the bill at the current sitting.

On Thursday, the bill was listed as No.15 on the parliamentary order paper after Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman moved a motion to debate the bill citing Standing Order 14(2).

The motion seeks to bring forward debate on the Bill, although it is listed as the last topic in the Dewan Rakyat's Order Paper.

PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, who submitted the bill to the Dewan Rakyat earlier in the day, later made a request that it be debated at the next meeting in October.