PERIKATAN Nasional is committed to amending the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act, otherwise known as RUU 355, said Ahmad Marzuk Shaary.

“The government has tasked the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia’s (Jakim) technical committee to study the amendments and discuss with the various states before the government tables it,” said the deputy minister for religious affairs (Islam) in Dewan Rakyat today.

Marzuk, who is Pengkalan Chepa MP, was responding to Ahmad Fadhli Shaari’s (Pasir Mas-PAS) question on the government’s progress in amending RUU 355.

In 2017, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang (Marang-PAS) made history when he tabled a bill to amend RUU 355 in Dewan Rakyat.

The effort was, however, cut short by then speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, who decided to adjourn Dewan Rakyat before MPs could debate it.

PAS has been championing to amend RUU 355 to extend the jurisdiction of the shariah courts and to streamline shariah punishments across states, where the respective Malay rulers are the final authority on matters concerning Islam.

Among the proposed amendments include increasing the shariah courts’ maximum sentencing limits to 30 years’ jail, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the cane. 

The current limits are three years’ jail, RM5,000 fine and six strokes. – November 26, 2020.