MPs have been reminded they are elected representatives of the people, and not just of a particular religion when it comes to deciding on PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill.

"All MPs in Parliament should remember that they have been elected by the rakyat of Msia as 'wakil rakyat' (people's representatives) of multi-ethnicity and religion, therefore they are elected as Malaysian MPs and not a MP of certain religion, not a Muslim MP, neither were they elected as a Buddhist, Christian or Hindu MP.

"Therefore, I urge them to act professionally according to the expectations of rakyat Malaysia, which is in line with the spirit of secularism and 1 Malaysia," said MCA Wanita chairperson Heng Seai Kie in a statement today.

"To claim that Hadi's bill only concerned Muslim is just unacceptable," she added.

She argued all Malaysians have an interest in the matter as "regardless of race and religion, it is our right and duty to decide on the direction of our country".

Heng repeated arguments that the amendments are unconstitutional as it prescribes different penalties for Muslims and non-Muslims.

All Malaysians, she said, have to "safeguard our motherland from extremism which will eventually lead us to no way but destruction".

"Therefore, I sincerely appeal to all our MPs in the Dewan Rakyat to reject Hadi's Private Member's Bill on Act 355 today."

Last roadblock to hudud

Hadi's bill, tabled to remove the final federal obstacle to Kelantan's hudud laws passed at state level last year, has made a reappearance after it was skipped over in past sittings.

The bill seeks to raise the present punishment cap to 30 years’ jail, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the whip.

The current syariah punishment cap of three years’ imprisonment, RM5,000 fine and six strokes of the whip.

Ironically, it was fast-tracked in the June sitting just before the twin by-elections in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar, under instructions from Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Non-Muslim BN component parties are opposed to hudud laws and Hadi's bill, but Umno has been evasive about its stand.

Yesterday DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said BN’s endorsement of the “hudud-like” laws under the proposed amendment to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) will lead to a clash with the constitution.

He said Umno's partners such as MCA that are opposed to the bill should leave BN.