The proposal seeks the formation of a special committee made up of shariah court chief judges from each state, professionals and religious scholars as well as relevant authorities.
The special committee will be in charge of overseeing steps in empowering the Shariah Court, including increasing its efficiency through sharpening the skills of Shariah Court judges and staff, increasing understanding and support of institutions and government departments and private parties towards the Shariah Court’s role, reevaluating the salary schemes of Shariah Court judges and staff, as well as reevaluating the effectiveness of Shariah Court punishment limits and types of punishment.
Speaking at a press conference at the Wisma Amanah Negara here today, Amanah Communications Director Khalid Samad said that the counter proposal was far better than Hadi’s existing bill, which was not effective in describing exactly what was intended and which could be misconstrued.
“This proposal is tons better as it is more detailed, encompasses a wider spectrum than just increasing punishments and can be accepted by all,” he said.
He said that if Hadi was indeed sincere about empowering the Shariah Court, he would consider the counter proposal seriously.
“If, however, his bill was merely a political act and all he wanted was to seem like a hero, where he is the only one who is fighting for Islam, then, whatever proposal we come up with will not fulfil his objective.”
Kota Raja MP Siti Mariah Mahmud, who was also present, said the non-Muslim community would have no qualms about the new proposal.
“Getting the support of the non-Muslims is most important because we need that unity,” she said.
The two MPs revealed that they had shared their counter proposal with other Pakatan Harapan component parties and they had no objections.
Asked whether Amanah would table the counter proposal in Parliament, Khalid said there was no commitment from the government to allow it to do so.
“Hadi’s been given the chance to table his bill so we want him to table our proposal instead.”
Last month, Amanah had requested that PAS explain the bill in detail instead of just providing “rhetoric”.
As far as increasing penalties for shariah offences went, Amanah supported it for two reasons: firstly, it will serve as a serious deterrent against crime and secondly, it will help develop expertise in the courts through more trials.
However, according to Khalid, PAS had yet to accommodate Amanah’s requests for an explanation of the bill.
“If the bill stands as is, then we will have to reject it but that will then also depend on how the debate goes in Parliament.”
Khalid said that one of the problems Amanah had with Hadi’s bill was Section 2a which states that the punishments will be what the Shariah Court sees as fit, apart from death.
“This gives a blank cheque to the Shariah Court where it can provide any kind of punishment it sees fit, which may even include dismemberment and anything else it can think of,” he said.