Muslim NGO seeks support for Hadi's Bill

Members from a Muslim NGO outside Parliament.

KUALA LUMPUR: Members from a Muslim NGO  gathered in front of Parliament Thursday to express support for the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965. 

Ummat secretariat chairman Aminuddin Yahya urged all Muslims lawmakers to support PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi's Private Members's Bill.  

"We want to tell all parliamentarians, especially Muslims, that the rakyat is behind them.

"If they do not support the Private Members' Bill, we will identify them, and not support them in the upcoming general election," he said in his speech, in front of the Parliament.

Some of the younger members of the NGO outside Parliament

 

The group chanted the zikir (prayers) and shouted takbir (God is great) when cars passed by to enter through the Parliament gates.

Aminuddin said the Private Member's Bill must be supported by all and was not hudud law as alleged by some quarters.

"We would like to explain that the law is specifically for Muslims and to elevate the position of the Syariah courts.

"The non-Muslims should understand that their position will not be threatened," he said.

PAS is expected to propose a toned-down version of its original proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.

Its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang is expected to further adjust his proposed amendment to the Act, also known as RUU355, Thursday.

Barisan Nasional component parties, including MCA, MIC and Gerakan among others, have vehemently opposed the tabling of the Private Members' Bill, saying that it would tear the country's legal system.