‘Having two legal systems would tear Malaysia apart’

KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan remains opposed to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s Bill, saying two legal systems will tear the country apart.

“We remain opposed to Hadi’s Bill,” party president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong said.

In a statement issued earlier, Mah said if Malaysia wanted to move forward, it had to be done in an inclusive manner.

“Having two separate legal systems will also create confusion and an open-ended environment for opportunists.

“Justice must be served and criminal laws must be applicable to all Malaysians as crime is indiscriminate against race and religion,” he added.

Mah, who is also the Teluk Intan MP, said that a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) comprising Muslims and non-Muslim lawmakers was a consultative and transparent way to ensure that the voice of all quarters were considered.

“Gerakan respects Islam and its status as the religion of the Fede­ration. However, the proposal made by Abdul Hadi contravenes the Federal Constitution and the fabric of the country,” said Mah, who is the Plantation Industries and Com­modities Minister.

He said Gerakan had decided to nominate its secretary-general Datuk Liang Teck Meng and Deputy Youth chief Andy Yong Kim Seng to represent the party in the PSC.

MIC deputy president Datuk Seri S.K. Devamany said the party vehemently opposed Abdul Hadi’s Bill.

“We need a proper dialogue to hear the views of the Muslim and non-Muslim MPs.

“We do not want two contradictory legal systems as the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the land,” he added.