AAct 355: Let’s all oppose it together!

“We are always told that the law will not affect non-Muslims and that is a lie. It has already affected non-Muslims in the present situation and with Act 355 amended, any non-Muslim family who has a Muslim relative will be affected in a big way.”

KUCHING: Politicians from different sides should come together and oppose the amendment to Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction)  Act 355 which will affect the fundamentals of the Federal Constitution, said Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Pelawan Secretary, Michael Tiang and Milton Foo, the Youth Central Secretary yesterday.

In a press conference at the SUPP headquarters, here Tiang pointed out that it is a time for everyone to stand together as Malaysians as this will affect Malaysia as a secular nation.

He said there are some who want the Act 355 to be amended claim that the law has been in existence for many years and the amendment is just a heavier penalty.

He warned that through the amendment of the Act 355, the law will be on par or even surpass that with the Federation Criminal jurisdiction.

“We are always told that the law will not affect non-Muslims and that is a lie. It has already affected non-Muslims in the present situation and with Act 355 amended, any non-Muslim family who has a Muslim relative will be affected in a big way,” he said.

This will not only bring disaster to the Federal Constitution but also affects everyone socially.

Foo said Sarawak has only 31 members of Parliament out of the 222 MPs. He said the voice of Sarawak is weak compared to that of Peninsular Malaysia. He said Sarawak needs a stronger mandate in the Parliament.

With the amendment going through, Foo said it will open up a floodgate of unpleasant things.

He also hit at the DAP for asking them to leave Barisan Nasional should the Act 355 be passed. Foo said they will stay in the coalition parties to fight the wrong system and there is no reason for them to back out when things are not going well.

Unlike the DAP, he said they make PAS stronger and now PAS has wanted the Act 355 so the DAP shies away from them and washes its hands off PAS.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang tabled the Hudud  amendment Bill in 2016 in Parliament. The debate was deferred to the parliament sitting this month.