Hadi tables Bill, but it could stay stuck

KUALA LUMPUR: In an unprecedented move, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was allowed to table his controversial Private Member’s Bill, sparking an uproar among many MPs.

However, the deferment of the debate on the Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act or RUU355 meant that it could now be in limbo.

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said that at the next meeting, Abdul Hadi’s Bill would be treated as a Private Member’s Bill.

Nazri, who was the former Minister in charge of Parliament, said the Government’s business of the day would continue to take precedence.

“The Speaker must give permission. It is not automatic (that Abdul Hadi’s Bill will be called up),” he said.

Nazri said the Bill could only move forward if Abdul Hadi’s motion is put to debate and voted upon.

“If he doesn’t get the necessary votes, then it just ends there, but if it gets the vote, then the Government must take over the Bill.

“This is because in order to amend RUU355, it has to come in the form of a Government Bill,” he said.

Nazri also said that the Government had made it clear that Barisan Nasional would follow the spirit of consensus and not take over the Bill.

Datuk Koh Nai Kwong (BN-Alor Gajah), who is a lawyer, said Abdul Hadi’s Bill was likely to remain in the Order Paper.

“It can remain there without anything happening to it for a long time.

“This has happened before, even to a Government Bill, such as the Goods and Services Tax, which was in the Order Paper since 2009, but was only passed in 2014.”