Sisters in Islam today expressed its disappointment with Marang MP and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for tabling a private member's bill on hudud to amend the Syariah Court Act (Jurisdiction of Criminal Offences) 1965.

It said Hadi was setting aside and disrespecting the Federal Constitution, and added that the intention was to expand the jurisdiction of the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Offences (2) Enactment 1993 for hudud to be implemented there.

 

“SIS views seriously the intention to table the bill, which is ultra vires (beyond the powers) Articles 75, 76 and 76A of the federal constitution.

"Hence, we urge federal lawmakers to respect the division of powers between the federal and state governments and also respect the constitution as the highest law of the country.

 

“We urge PAS and the Kelantan government to focus its attention on economic development in the state and development post the recent flood crisis.

"This is in line with the ‘maqasid syariah’ (objectives of syariah) or responsibility of leaders in Islam,” SIS said in a statement today.

 

Article 75 declares that if there is inconsistency between state and federal laws, the state law can be declared void, while Article 76 refers to the powers of Parliament to legislate for states in certain laws.

 

Article 76A concerns the powers of Parliament to extend the legislative powers of the states.

 

Hadi's private member's bill on hudud is the last item on the agenda in Parliament today, and it remains uncertain whether it would be tabled later in the day.

 

SIS further reiterated that the implementation of the Kelantan Syariah Offences Enactment 1993 goes against the basic doctrine of the constitution and it hopes that the bill would be rejected by the MPs.