Moderate member Tawfik files suit against Hadi's Bill

PETALING JAYA: Moderate member Mohamed Tawfik Ismail has filed a suit seeking to declare PAS’ Private Member’s Bill as unconstitutional and that it flouts Parliament procedures.

Naming Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia and its secretary Datuk Roosme Hamzah as defendants, Tawfik said the Dewan Rakyat’s decision to allow a motion to table the Bill by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang also is in contempt of the Rulers’ Conference as prior consent was not obtained.

The  former Umno MP and son of the country’s second deputy prime minister Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman filed the court papers Friday afternoon.

His solicitors are expected to serve the papers on the defendants on Wednesday.

Tawfik is seeking 10 declarations and orders that would effectively stop the tabling of the Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act.

On Wednesday, the Government decided not to table the Private Member's Bill  to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act or RUU 355. 

In announcing the decision, Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said it was done in line with the principle of consensus.