A blanket ‘no’ from Sarawak MPs

KUCHING: All Sarawak Barisan Nasional MPs, including the Muslims ones, have been instructed to oppose the Private Member’s Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.

SUPP president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said the directive was given when Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem met state Barisan component party leaders at the state assembly building yesterday to discuss their views.

“The Chief Minister reiterated that Sarawak shall not implement hudud and shall oppose the Bill.

“He has directed Sarawak MPs to vote against the Bill, which is seen as a precursor to the implementation of hudud.

“All state Barisan parties are united in this matter,” Dr Sim told reporters after the meeting.

The meeting was also attended by PRS president Tan Sri James Masing, and PBB deputy president Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and senior vice-president Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.

Sarawak has 31 MPs, comprising 25 from Barisan, five from DAP and one from PKR.

The six on the opposition side are also against the Bill.

Dr Sim said the Bill went against the spirit and letter of the Malaysia Agreement 1963, which stipulates that Sarawak is a secular state with no official religion.

He also pointed out that about 44% of Sarawak’s 2.8 million population are Christians.

“We view any step or policy to advance the implementation of hudud to be the culprit for the division of the nation,” he said.

In addition, he said SUPP did not agree with the emergence of two criminal justice systems, which contradicts the Federal Constitution and affects the rights and lifestyle of all Malaysians.

He said PAS, by proposing the Bill, showed “blatant disregard” for the rights and sentiments of all racial and faith groups in the nation.

“It is also consistently challenging the spirit of the Federal Constitution for political mileage.”

A “tweaked” version of the Bill, which seeks to enhance punishments in syariah courts, would be tabled by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang in Parliament this week.