Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri’s pledge not to show up in Parliament for the vote on PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s Bill is as good as pledging support for the bill, said Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari.

Zairil urged the minister, who is in charge of law, to reconsider her position and vote against the bill, together with her Sarawak BN colleagues.

“Nancy’s announcement that she would not vote either way is contrary to Sarawak BN’s stand. In fact, for her to say that Hadi’s bill is ‘none of her business’ is grossly irresponsible, when clearly the loss of her vote against the bill may result in major and irreversible repercussions for the country.

“Her decision not to participate is akin to supporting Hadi’s bill, because the passing of the bill requires a simple majority of the MPs present in the chambers.

“In other words, any MP who is against the bill and does not show up to vote will in effect increase the chances of the bill succeeding," Zairil (photo) said in a statement today.

Azalina moved to fast-track the bill

Yesterday, Nancy had said that she would not only reject Hadi’s bill, but would not even be present at the Dewan Rakyat for the vote.

“Not only will I reject (the bill), I will not even be there.

“I have already demonstrated it on the day it was tabled. I was not inside (the House)," said the Batang Sadong MP from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).

She added that the amendment proposed by Hadi was unnecessary, as current provisions on punishments that could be meted out by the syariah courts were adequate.

The bill seeks to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, such that the syariah court can impose any punishment allowed by the relevant state syariah enactments, except the death penalty.

This is widely seen as a bid to remove a hurdle to enforcing the harsh punishments stipulated under hudud, the Islamic penal system, in the PAS-led state of Kelantan.

The bill was originally the last item on the Dewan Rakyat’s order paper, which meant that it was unlikely to ever be debated.

However, on May 26, Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said moved to fast-track the bill.

This provoked an uproar among MPs on both sides of the House, including those from BN component parties such as MCA, MIC, Gerakan, United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) and PBB.