Hadi's Bill to be tabled today

Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang

KUALA LUMPUR: The Private Member's Bill by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to strengthen the Syariah courts will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat Thursday.

It is now listed as No. 1 in the Parliament Order Paper.

There is no government order listed in the orders of the day as the remaining Bills were withdrawn.

Abdul Hadi is likely to table the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act or RUU355 around noon, after the Question and Answer session.

Abdul Hadi's proposed amendments to Section 2 of RUU355 is to increase the current "imprisonment of more than three years or fine of more than RM5,000, or more than six lashes" to "jail term of more than 30 years or fine more than RM100,000 or 100 lashes as administered in line with the syariah crimes".

The Dewan Rakyat was supposed to adjourn at 11.30pm on Wednesday night but it was then extended till five more government Bills were debated and passed.

The House adjourned at 4.58am on Thursday.

Last November, Abdul Hadi tabled a "tweaked" motion of his Bill to empower the Syariah courts to impose stiffer penalties but he deferred it under Standing Order 15(5).

Last Wednesday, Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that the Government would not take over the Bill, in line with the spirit of consensus among the component parties.

Najib said it would remain a Private Member's Bill if it was presented in the Dewan Rakyat, and it would be up to the Speaker to decide based on the Order Paper.