KUALA LUMPUR: The Private Members’ Bill proposed by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang is not about hudud, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Prime Minister said there was a "misunderstanding" on the nature of the Bill.
"Abdul Hadi has brought up the hudud (issue), so when he proposed the Bill, it was automatically labelled as hudud," Najib said at a press conference after the Umno supreme council meeting at Menara Dato' Onn here Friday.
He said the Bill only touched on the caning punishment meted out by the Syariah Courts. "It is what is called enhanced punishment and depends on the nature of the crime."
He said as it was under the Syariah Courts, the matter only concerns Muslims in the country.
Najib said the implementation of the Bill would not only need Parliament's consent, but also the approval of the state Islamic Department and the Rulers Council.
He added that he had explained the nature of the Bill to the other component parties in Barisan Nasional.
The Bill seeks to amend the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.
