UMNO’s manipulation of the proposed changes to Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355), better known as RUU 355, for political gain is emboldening religious extremists.

Coupled with PAS’ push to enhance shariah court punishments in line with hudud, the matter has caused non-Muslim Malaysians worry and unease, particularly in Sarawak and Sabah, said Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian today.

“They (Umno) do not care that their ambivalence towards RUU355 and hudud emboldens the religious extremists to become even more bold and outrageous.

“The perception is that the government is on their side as the leaders have failed to make a strong stand on the issue,” the Ba Kelalan assemblyman said as the RUU355 bill resurfaced in the current Parliamentary sitting.

It has appeared on the list of the Parliament Order paper.

Baru said it is unwise to allow the hudud issue to be raised again as it has caused much uneasiness among non-Muslim in the Borneo states.

“What PAS refuses to acknowledge is the undeniable fact that the foundation of this country was never hudud.

“Islam was made the official religion for ceremonial purposes but the intention was that Malaysia be secular, with religious freedom for all.

“Hudud or shariah law was never on the minds of our forefathers when the idea of Malaysia was mooted and eventually carried out.

“In fact, the absence of an official religion and the freedom of religion for Sabah and Sarawak were two points that were given high prominence in the discussion and the subsequent Malaysia Agreement.”

Baru also warned non-Muslims not be fooled into believing that hudud or shariah laws would only apply to Muslims.

“Our news portals abound with instances where Islamic practices were imposed on non-Muslims.

“Take for example the recent marathon in Kelantan where the council required a segregation of the male and female participants of the event,” he said.

Baru said despite Prime Minister Najib Razak’s trumpeting of Malaysia as a model moderate Muslim country, “the reality is that we are slowing but surely becoming a country where religious and racial intolerance is increasing, and religious extremism growing”.

“While it is not obvious yet in Sarawak and Sabah, we are not isolated from West Malaysia.

“Unconsciously such prejudices may trickle in and take root and if unchecked, will destroy society and the nation as we know it now.

“The need to fight against religious extremism and racial intolerance must not be taken lightly – many of us have family and friends working, living and studying in West Malaysia.

“What happens there affects us all.”

While the PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s Bill to amend  RUU355 has again appeared on the Parliament Order paper, it is uncertain whether a debate on the bill will resume this session.

In April, the bill was tabled the day after the infamous marathon sitting which ended around 6am, causing DAP MPs to claim the government was hoping to catch them napping to allow the bill easy passage.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia at the time allowed only Kota Baru PAS MP Takiyuddin Hassan the chance to speak in support of the bill, after which Pandikar abruptly deferred debates on the bill to the current sitting.

Due to such tactics, Baru said, all MPs must remain alert to the possibility of a similar “ambush in the wee hours of the morning”.

“The Speaker has shown himself to be capable of such underhanded tactics, and he may well be called upon to carry out a repeat performance.” – July 27, 2017.