Parliamentary vote on Hadi’s Hudud bill set to trigger, make clearer political realignments for GE14

Parliamentary vote on Hadi’s Hudud bill set to trigger, make clearer political realignments for GE14

So, finally, Islamist PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s private member’s bill is set to debated for approval in the next Parliament meeting on Monday (Oct 17, 2016).

Unless the Hudud debate is set aside for some reason, it is not only going to be a fiery session.

When the bill is up for approval, it will be interesting to watch how the Malay and non-Malay Members of Parliament (MPs) from both sides of the political divide will vote.

While the Malay MPs, as Muslims, may have no option as they cannot be seen rejecting an Islamic law, some may choose to absent themselves when the bill comes up for voting.

The same also applies to the non-Muslim MPs, especially those from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) Prime Minister Najib Razak’s Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) ruling government.

Do MCA, MIC and Gerakan MPs have the courage to vote against Hadi’s bill if Umno and its MPs decide to support it?

However, one must also remember that this is a private member’s bill, not a government bill, thus BN MPs are not compelled to support it.

Then, the Umno lackey MPs can vote against the bill and then go around town bragging that they did not support it. But what happens if Umno MPs support the bill and, thereafter, PAS joins BN for the next general election (GE) or a snap GE14?

The lackey BN parties are then back to square one - they have to work with PAS as big brother Umno demands so.

If a significant number of Muslim MPs from both sides of the political divide absent themselves and Hadi fails to get the bill approved, then it will be interesting to see where he and PAS stand in GE14 - with BN-Umno or the Opposition or continue to go solo and help BN-Umno laugh all the way to GE14 victory.

The non-Muslim MPs from DAP, PKR, Sabah and Sarawak are also expected to vote against the bill.

Here’s the Malay Mail report on the debate of the bill in Parliament:

"MALAYSIA A STEP AWAY FROM HUDUD: HADI’S BILL 4TH ITEM ON AGENDA AT NEXT WEEK’S PARLIAMENT

Politics | October 12, 2016 by | 0 Comments


KUALA LUMPUR – PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s private member’s Bill to enhance the powers of the Shariah Court is listed in the Order Papers for the next Parliament meeting beginning Monday.

The Bill is the fourth item on the agenda for the day, according to a copy of the Order Paper sighted by Malay Mail Online.

Hadi managed to table his Bill in the May sitting after Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said submitted a motion to elevate the item, then 42nd and last in the final day’s order, above the government’s motions.

The Islamist party president elected, however, to defer the tabling to this meeting when given the option to do so by Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.

Hadi’s Bill has also been called the “Hudud Bill” owing to belief that it will pave way for the enforcement of the Islamic penal law in states such as Terengganu and Kelantan where such legislation exist but remain dormant due to constitutional barriers to their implementation.

It seeks to amend the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act, also known as Act 355, to empower Islamic courts to enforce punishments ― except for the death penalty ― provided in Shariah laws for Islamic offences listed under state jurisdiction in the Federal Constitution.

Shariah court punishments are currently limited to jail terms not exceeding three years, whipping of not more than six strokes, or fines of not more than RM5,000.– Malay Mail"