26 November 2016

Instead of urging BN component parties to quit, Lim Guan Eng should stop PAS’ efforts to introduce amendments on Act 355

The MCA Youth Young Professionals and Varsity Students' Affairs Bureau is disappointed by the challenge thrown by the DAP Secretary General YAB Lim Guan Eng to MCA and several other Barisan Nasional component parties to leave the Barisan Nasional Coalition over the Private Member's Bill by PAS President Datuk Seri Hadi Awang.

This is again a political sandiwara by the DAP Secretary General who tries to deflect the blame over Hadi's Private Member's Bill away from DAP. Despite the fact that DAP has worked with PAS in past, and is still working with PAS in the Selangor state administration, DAP has repeatedly refused to admit its fault of working together and strengthening PAS. Instead, time and time again, it has run away from its responsibility and these cowardice acts of DAP only go on to show that the party is merely an empty barrel.

The MCA Youth Young Professionals and Varsity Students' Affairs Bureau is of the view that Lim Guan Eng's repeated challenge for the Barisan Nasional component parties to leave the coalition is merely an attempt to cover up DAP's mistake of working with PAS, and also how they have colluded to deceive the voters. It is pertinent to note that the Private Member's Bill is one which was tabled by PAS, DAP's partner in Selangor whom they have also shared the same bed at the national level. It is not a Bill by Barisan Nasional. Contrary to Lim Guan Eng's fantasy, there is a need for MCA and the other like-minded component parties to remain in the Barisan Nasional coalition to ensure that the gate to approve Hadi's Bill will not be opened, and to ensure that Barisan Nasional will always hold true to the Parliamentarians' oath to protect, preserve and defend the Constitution.

As such, we urge Lim Guan Eng to stop wasting his time and energy to camouflage the issue, but instead channel them to address the issue and to stop PAS from its continuous efforts to test the Constitution.

On Hadi's latest amended Bill which seeks to expand the Syariah courts' jurisdiction from the existing limit of 3 years imprisonment, 6 lashes of cane and RM5,000 fine to that of 30 years of imprisonment, 100 lashes of cane and RM100,000 fine, we are of the view that this proposed increase is too excessive and unreasonable.

One should bear in mind that the Syariah courts' jurisdiction is only related to personal laws and offences against the precepts of Islam. In other words, the so called criminal jurisdiction for the Syariah courts are only available for religious matters. On that basis, to expand the Syariah courts' jurisdiction of imprisonment up to 30 years is excessive when the Penal Code only prescribes a length of imprisonment of not more than 14 years for the offence of robbery.

As such, the Bureau is of the view that this Private Member's Bill, despite its latest amendment, should not be passed by the Parliament.

Eric Choo Wei Sern
MCA Youth Young Professionals and Varsity Students' Affairs Bureau Chairman

-MCA Online-