Does public consent matter for harsher Shariah punishments?

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Public Consent Not Required for Harsher Shariah Punishments Bill

PAS vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah has stated that public consent and understanding are not prerequisites for the passage of a Bill aimed at implementing more severe Shariah punishments. He dismissed a public poll indicating that a significant majority of Malay voters are unaware of the Bill, referred to as RUU355. Nik Amar drew a parallel to the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), asserting that such laws can be enacted even without widespread public comprehension.
Public Awareness Levels Regarding RUU355

A study conducted by the Invoke Centre for Policy Initiatives revealed a substantial lack of awareness concerning the RUU355 Bill. The survey indicated that 70.1% of Malay or Bumiputera voters polled were unaware of the proposed legislation. This lack of knowledge extended even to a portion of PAS supporters, with over half (54.3%) of those identifying as PAS voters admitting they did not know about the Bill.
PAS's Efforts in Public Education

Despite the low public awareness, PAS has been engaged in educating its members and the wider Muslim community across the nation about the private member's Bill. According to Nik Amar, the party has been organising talks and forums specifically for Muslims to disseminate information about the proposed changes. He believes that public understanding will gradually develop as these educational efforts continue.
Proposed Enhancements to Shariah Punishments

The private member's Bill, proposed by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, seeks to significantly increase the penalties within the Shariah court system. Currently, the maximum punishments allowed are three years' imprisonment, six strokes of the cane, and a fine of RM5,000. The proposed amendments aim to raise these limits substantially to 30 years' imprisonment, 100 strokes of the cane, and a fine of RM100,000.
Government's Approach to Legislative Amendments

In parallel to PAS's efforts, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi has announced that Barisan Nasional intends to table amendments to the same Act directly. This indicates a parallel legislative track for addressing the scope of Shariah punishments within the Malaysian legal framework.

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Does public consent matter for harsher Shariah punishments?

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