Court Dismisses Tawfik S Act 355 Suit As Academic

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The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has dismissed former Simpang Benut MP Mohamed Tawfik Ismail's challenge against the tabling of an amendment to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang as academic
The ruling was made by Justice Nordin Ismail today
Tawfik's lawyer Rosli Dahlan told reporters that the court found the bill to be a non-issue following the dissolution of the 13th parliament
"There is no issue, as far as the court is concerned, to decide on
"We don't think it is academic but we respect the court's decision," Rosli said when met in court today
He added that Tawfik (photo) and those who supported the lawsuit believe they have achieved their objective of blocking the Act 355 bill
The court's decision today follows a challenge by the Attorney-General's Chambers last month, which argued that the case was academic as Hadi would have to table the bill anew under the new Parliament
This would be subject to Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusoff’s approval.In March last year, Tawfik, who is the son of the former deputy prime minister Ismail Abdul Rahman, then filed the suit seeking a declaration that the proposed amendment to Act 355 was unconstitutional as it had bypassed the Conference of Rulers
Hadi's bill sought to amend Act 355 to raise the maximum punishment to a RM100,000 fine, 10 years' jail and 100 lashes, up from the present RM5,000 fine, three years’ jail and six lashes
Thus far, it has been tabled three times in Parliament under the previous BN administration but it was never debated. - Mkini

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