Putrajaya has set up a special committee to strengthen the country's syariah laws in holistic manner, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom.

According to Jamil, the Committee to Strengthen Syariah Courts (JKMMS), which the Cabinet had ordered the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) to set up last August, is being chaired by the Universiti Islam Malaysia president Mohd Yusof Noor.

"Two implementing committees, namely the steering committee and main committee, have been set up to execute the objectives outlined in JKMMS.

"The two committees consist of leaders and experts, including those who have expertise in syariah law and civil law," Jamil said in a parliamentary reply dated Nov 16 in response to a query from Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena).

Mahfuz (photo) had asked about the status of the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355).

"As for the purpose of discussing measures to strengthen the Syariah Courts and identify issues arising in relation to the amendments of Act 355, a cluster has been set up.

"On the motion brought by Marang (MP Abdul Hadi Awang) to amend Act 355, this is subject to the standing order of the Dewan Rakyat sitting," he said.

In May last year, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said surprised Parliament when she requested prioritising Hadi’s private member's bill on the amendments.

The motion from Hadi (photo) sought leave to amend Act 355 by removing the punishment cap that can be meted out by the Syariah Court, which currently stands at three years’ imprisonment, RM5,000 fine, and six strokes of the rotan.

Umno leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, had expressed support for the move and negotiated a deal with PAS to raise the cap to 10 years’ imprisonment, RM100,000 fine, and 100 strokes of the rotan.

There were also suggestions that the government takes over the proposed amendment.

However, Umno's partners in BN, including those in East Malaysia, voiced fierce protest, prompting Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to promise that the government would not table the proposed amendments.

The proposed amendments have progressed slowly, with multiple deferments and an updated version tabled in Parliament in April.

It was again deferred in the last Parliament sitting in July, and based on Mahfuz’s indication, it is likely to be met with the same fate in the current Parliament sitting.