PBB says ‘no’ to Hadi’s Bill
KUCHING: Sarawak’s biggest political party PBB gave a resounding “no” to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s Bill on amendments to the Syariah Courts Act.
PBB president Tan Sri Adenan Satem declared that the state with its multi-racial population cannot accept such a law.
“Muslims in Sarawak comprise 25% of the state’s population,” he said, adding that it would not support the Bill.
“We are not Kelantan,” he told reporters after chairing a PBB supreme council meeting at the party headquarters yesterday.
PBB is the backbone of Sarawak Barisan Nasional and is the second largest party in Parliament, with 14 MPs, after Umno which has 88.
The Bill seeks to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act to increase certain penalties.
Last week, Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said Sarawak was firm in its stand against the Bill.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is also Petra Jaya MP, has also said that it was a “no-no” as far as Sarawak was concerned.
PBRS president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup of Sabah was reported to have said that the Bill, if passed, would have a divisive effect on the unity and understanding that was cultivated since the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
“If it (the Bill) is forced into Parliament and passed, I’m afraid it will trigger more feelings among the people of Sabah and Sarawak to go their separate ways. They (Federal Government) shouldn’t have the slightest thought of introducing this law,” he said.
On a separate issue, Adenan said nine party-less assemblymen who had applied to join PBB had been asked to reconsider their decision.
He said they would have to consult their constituents first whether they should join PBB and report back to the party by the end of the month.
“If they, after consulting with their constituents, insist on joining PBB, then we have no choice but to entertain their application favourably,” he said.
Among the nine are three assemblymen who resigned from PBB before the May 7 state elections to contest as Barisan direct candidates.
Six other direct candidates formerly from splinter parties Teras and UPP have also applied to join the party.
If they are accepted, PBB would have 49 members in the 82-seat state legislative assembly, more than a simple majority.
However, Adenan declined to comment on concerns raised by other Barisan component parties that this would make PBB too strong.
“We will see what happens after (the nine) have reconsidered. It’s too early to comment on it,” he said.
