Zairil told Nancy that her vote could very well be the vote that decides on the Bill’s success or failure in the lower House. — Photo by Saw Siow Feng

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — A DAP federal lawmaker told minister Nancy Shukri today that her decision to abstain from voting on PAS’s Shariah Bill was akin to her supporting it.

Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari said it was shocking that the Sarawak MP would want to refrain from voting given the state’s stance on the issue.

He told the minister that her vote could very well be the vote that decides on the Bill’s success or failure in the lower House.

“Her decision not to participate is akin to supporting Hadi’s bill, because the passing of the bill requires a simple majority of MPs present in the chambers.

“In other words, any MP who is against the bill and does not show up to vote will in effect increase the chances of the bill succeeding,” Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari said in a statement today.

Yesterday, Nancy, who is from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the second-largest Barisan Nasional (BN) party in Parliament, said she will be absent from Parliament on the day MPs would have to vote on the PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Members’ Bill.

"Hudud or not, I'm not supporting it and if PAS wants to do that, it is none of my business,” she told reporters.

The Bill, often labelled by detractors as the hudud Bill, seeks to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 to enhance the punitive powers of the Shariah courts.

Zairil, however, explained that it was crucial for all lawmakers to exercise their right to vote on the Shariah amendments as it could enable state governments to mete out severe punishments for various crimes.

“This would instantly enable most of the punishments prescribed under the two hudud enactments in Kelantan and Terengganu, such as 100 lashes for fornication, 80 lashes for sexual slander, 40-80 lashes for intoxication and an unspecified jail term with forfeiture of property for those deemed to be heretics and apostates,” he said.

He also reminded Nancy that her party president, Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem had recently denounced the Bill, saying its implementation would not be suitable in the multiracial state.

“Unfortunately, Nancy’s announcement that she would not vote either way is contrary to Sarawak BN’s stand.

“In fact, for her to say that Hadi’s Bill is ‘none of her business’ is grossly irresponsible, when clearly the loss of her vote against the Bill may result in major and irreversible repercussions for the country,” he said.

The proposed amendments in Hadi’s Bill seek to allow for harsher punishments on convicted Muslims apart from the death penalty.

Critics argue that the Bill is unconstitutional and will pave the way for the introduction of hudud, but PAS and Umno leaders have both repeatedly asserted that it will not and does not affect non-Muslims.