Liow asserts PAS' Bill is unconstitutional

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has asserted his stand that PAS' Private Member's Bill which seeks harsher punishments to be meted out under the Syariah Law if passed in Parliament, is unconstitutional.

The Transport Minister said that the spirit of the Federal Constitution limits punishments under the Syariah Law to a maximum of three years in prison, a fine of RM5,000, and six strokes of the rotan. 

He said defying these limits would be in violation of the Constitution.

“Article 4(1) states that the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the country, so no other law should be above the Constitution,” said Liow when met by reporters at the 62nd anniversary dinner of the Master Builders Association of Malaysia (MBAM) at the Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa here on Friday night.

He was commenting on the tabling of the Private Members' Bill in Parliament by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang on Thursday.

“We would like to urge all parties to work together to stop Hadi’s Bill from getting endorsed in Parliament,” Liow added. 

The Bill was the last item (15) on the Order List but a motion was raised and seconded by Umno MPs to move it up so that it could be tabled. 

However, Abdul Hadi requested that voting on the Bill be deferred to the next parliamentary meeting in October to allow more time for debate.

The Bill seeks to amend the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.