KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) is also against the PAS’ Private Bill on Syariah and opposes to Hudud as the Malaysia Agreement 1963 states that the federation should be secular.
PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang recently tabled a Private Member’s Bill in the Dewan Rakyat pertaining to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill 2016.
The Marang member of parliament said the Bill sought to amend Section 2 of the Act to state that the Syariah Courts will have jurisdiction over Muslims, and in the case of offences on matters listed in Item 1 of the State List under the ninth schedule of Federal Laws.
PBRS secretary general Datuk Dr Johnson Tee said the party’s Supreme Council is committed to reject the Bill.
He said the proposed amendments to be tabled by Hadi contravene provisions of the Federal Constitution, as the country already has its own Penal Code to punish criminals according to their offences.
“PBRS believes that the overlapping of the existing legal system that we have been practising is not healthy for the harmonious society in Malaysia. Malaysia cannot have two systems of laws at the same time,” he said in a statement yesterday.
PBRS President Tan Sri Joseph Kurup recently cautioned Putrajaya that Sabahans and Sarawakians may demand to split from Peninsular Malaysia if the proposed amendments to Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 are passed in Parliament.
He is apprehensive that if the bill is forced, most Sabahans are afraid that it will trigger more feelings among the people of Sabah and Sarawak to go their separate ways.