PARLIAMENT The Islamic law, which includes hudud, is a form of law to educate the people instead of punishing the people as feared by many, said Abdul Hadi Awang (PAS-Marang).

The Islamic law was an inclusive legislation that covers crime, trade and international affairs, he said.

“But people only talked about potong tangan (amputating hands)... This is used as a weapon to attack Islam,” he lamented.

The Syariah law was more on education instead of punishment, said the PAS president.

“According to Syariah law, the judge needs to find his way to release the accused. Islam encourages pardon and repentance before (the accused) is brought to court,” he said.

“What is there to fear if (you) do not steal?” he asked, stressing that non-Muslims should not worry about it.

Hadi also argued that the punishment of whipping imposed by the Syariah Court was only meant to humiliate, not to inflict physical pain or cause harm.

He cited a case where an accused sentenced with 100 times of whipping was unhurt because 100 twigs were bound together and lashed just once.

Hadi, who was debating the Royal Address today, brought up the hudud issue when he urged the federal government to empower the Syariah courts.

The PAS president had failed in his bid to get the House's green light to implement hudud in Kelantan.

Hadi at first did not utter a word on hudud in his speech.

He just emphasised the need to uplift the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court, where he claimed that a magistrate has more power in imposing punishment for offences such as littering and smoking.

Hasan Arifin (BN-Rompin) then brought up the issue of hudud.

"Non-Muslims will not be scared when we talk about strengthening the Syariah Court instead of hudud," he said curtly.