KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 ― Two non-Muslim representatives from the Barisan Nasional (BN) Datuk Heng Seai Kie and Tan Sri Joseph Kurup expressed surprise today at the federal government’s decision to bring forward the controversial proposed Shariah law amendments that will enable the rollout of hudud in Kelantan.
Heng, who is adviser on national unity and integration in the Prime Minister’s Department, said she was “taken aback” by developments in the Dewan Rakyat today when Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman put in a motion to move up the Private Member's Bill by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to be read today.
“I was taken aback. The MCA presidential council met yesterday and we decided we were against hudud,” she told reporters at the Parliament lobby.
“Our stand is always the same. We are of the opinion that hudud is unconstitutional,” she added.
Kurup, who is another minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and in charge of unity, similarly said he was caught by surprise when the motion went through.
“Everyone had to read the Bill properly, I guess that is why it was deferred,” he said.“I will have to read it first,” he added when asked if he would support the Bill when it is raised again for debate.
The proposed amendments seeks to amend the Shariah Court Act to increase the ambit of punishment that the Islamic court can mete out.
However, PAS unexpectedly asked to defer debate on its private member’s hudud Bill to the next Dewan Rakyat meeting. MALAY MAIL ONLINE
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