Himpunan 355 rally

Do we really need to strengthen Malaysia’s Syariah courts? – Zan Azlee

Evan Quick

Source: Asian Correspondent

BY ZAN AZLEE

A participant at the Himpunan RU355 rally at Padang Merbok, Kuala Lumpur, in support for the amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965. Source: ‏@zurairi.

A participant at the Himpunan RU355 rally at Padang Merbok, Kuala Lumpur, in support for the amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965. Source: ‏@zurairi.

YEARS ago when I was 19-years-old and still in university, my parents paid me a visit in the Kuala Lumpur capital and we spent the night having dinner and because it was late, I slept in their hotel room.

In the wee hours of the morning, we heard a loud knocking on the door.

All three of us woke up and my father opened the door to see three men standing there claiming to be officers from Jawi, or the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department.

It was Valentine’s night and they were on a raiding mission all around town trying to catch unmarried couples who were feeling a little bit too amorous on the mother of all amorous nights. The hotel that we were staying in was on their list. Read more →

Three things we learned from: The Himpunan 355 rally — Da Lim and Yiswaree Palansamy

Coordinator

Source: The Malay Mail Online

BY DA LIM & YISWAREE PALANSAMY

PAs supporters are seen at Padang Merbok during the PAS-led Himpunan 355 rally in Kuala Lumpur February 18, 2017. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng for the MMO.

PAs supporters are seen at Padang Merbok during the PAS-led Himpunan 355 rally in Kuala Lumpur February 18, 2017. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng for the MMO.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 — Thousands attended the PAS-led Himpunan 355 rally yesterday in the nation’s capital in a bid to increase punishments for Shariah offences.

PAS and several Muslim NGOs have packaged the proposed change to the existing law as the seemingly innocuous “RUU355”, a reference to Act 355 or the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 which currently limits the Shariah courts’ maximum sentencing powers to three years’ jail, RM5,000 fine and six lashes.

Now in its third edition, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s private member’s Bill is seeking an increase of the penalties that Shariah courts can mete out to a maximum of 30 years’ jail, RM100,000 fine and 100 lashes.

Here are the three takeaways from the Himpunan 355: Read more →