Liow: Opposition Bill will not get our support

Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA will never waver from its stand to oppose the PAS’ Private Member’s Bill on syariah amendments, said its president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

“We don’t care how many readings the Private Member’s Bill will go through in Parliament, but the bottom line is that MCA will oppose it.

“We will not support a Bill from the Opposition, especially from PAS,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He said there was no reason why the PAS Bill should be given priority over other government matters.

He said the Bill did not enjoy the consensus of all Barisan Nasional parties.

“There can never be two systems of law in this country. We cannot accept it nor close an eye to this,” he said.

At the Parliament lobby yesterday night, Liow said MCA feels Hadi’s Bill is against the spirit of the Federal Constitution, and as such, it should not be debated and passed in Parliament.

When asked if MCA would support a Government Bill to enhance Syariah courts, Liow said: “We have to look at the proposal.

“If the enhancement is to allow Hudud laws to be implemented in the country, we will not support it.”

On the proposed setting up of a Parliamentary Select Committee to look into the amendments to increase the penalties for the Syariah Courts, Liow said MCA was not consulted on the matter.

He added the party would “look at the content” first.

“I will say that it is good to have a select committee to discuss any issue, but it has to depend on what are the issues we need to discuss.

“If it is something that even from the very beginning is not very logical and doesn’t contribute to nation building, then what is the point of discussing it,” he said.

Meanwhile in Putrajaya, MCA Youth chief Datuk Chong Sin Woon said Liow had also met with other component parties in Parliament on Tuesday and MCA was confident that Gerakan, MIC and parties from Sabah and Sarawak would also oppose Hadi’s Bill.

He added that if there was no consensus within Barisan, there would be no whip that would instruct members from component parties to vote for the Bill.

“We have openly announced that we are against the Bill whether it is the original Bill tabled, watered down Bill or an amendment Bill. No go,” said Chong.