Could the Shariah Bill amendments harm Islamic laws?

Question

Accepted Answer

Shariah Bill Amendments Could Harm Islamic Laws Due to Vagueness, Pakatan Harapan States

Pakatan Harapan has indicated its intention to reject PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill concerning amendments to the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill 2016. This stance is primarily due to concerns that the proposed amendments are vague and ambiguous, which could potentially be detrimental to Islamic laws and the Shariah Courts themselves. Without further clarification before the next Parliament sitting, Pakatan Harapan will not support the bill.
Concerns Over Vagueness and Ambiguity

Amanah communication director Khalid Samad articulated that the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill 2016 suffers from significant vagueness and ambiguity. He stated that supporting amendments that are confusing and unclear, even with the general aim of enhancing Shariah Courts, is not feasible. This lack of clarity, according to Khalid Samad, could inadvertently undermine the integrity and effectiveness of Islamic legal frameworks.
Proposal for a Comprehensive Study

Khalid Samad proposed an alternative approach, suggesting that the Bill be made more comprehensive by encompassing all elements and aspects of Shariah law. He recommended the formation of a dedicated committee comprising Shariah Court judges from each state, along with scholars and religious experts. This committee would be tasked with studying various elements and advising on how the Bill should be structured, including improving case handling effectiveness, salary scales for staff, and the efficacy of punishments under Act 355.
Lack of Response to Clarification Requests

Khalid Samad highlighted that attempts to obtain clarification from Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang have been unsuccessful. Following a press conference on September 6, Khalid Samad sent a letter to Hadi requesting an explanation of the proposed amendments to Act 355 and their implications. However, as of the current reporting, neither Hadi nor PAS has issued a reply to this request, reinforcing Pakatan Harapan's reservations.
Bill's Objective and Amanah's Internal Assessment

Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's Bill aims to amend Act 355 to empower Shariah Courts in Kelantan by allowing for harsher penalties. However, an internal roundtable meeting within Amanah concluded that the Bill was "confusing and vague in nature." This internal assessment has contributed to Pakatan Harapan's position that the Bill, in its current form, requires significant elaboration and potentially revision before it can garner support.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Could the Shariah Bill amendments harm Islamic laws?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends