IT was a contemptuous assault to our parliamentary democracy when Parliamentarians were kept up until 5am on April 6, 2017, the final day of the Parliamentary sitting, to clear government Bills just to give Marang MP Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang the opportunity to table his Private Member’s Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) at noon.
While the Speaker halted the debate after speeches by Abdul Hadi and his colleague from Kota Baru, the Bill is far from dead. Abdul Hadi will continue to pursue it, the proponents will continue slamming the opponents either as “betraying Islam” (for Muslims) or “anti-Islam” (for non-Muslims); and until it is adopted, it will be tabled in every parliamentary sitting and stands the chance to be fast-tracked by a minister. It is therefore important for Malaysians to take a categorical stand against the Bill, and here is why.
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