KUALA LUMPUR: Pas has rebuffed an interfaith organisation's claims that proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 will be unconstitutional.
The party's secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the claim made by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) was "problematic".
The group, in a recent Malay Mail report, claimed the proposed amendments which are aimed at empowering Syariah courts, were unconstitutional as some Shariah criminal offences were part of existing criminal laws.
Takiyuddin said as an interfaith organisation, MCCBCHST should not interfere or be seen as interfering in matters relating to Islam.
He also said the group failed to demonstrate or provide evidence of how the proposed amendments to the law, commonly known as Act 355, would affect non-Muslims.
Takiyuddin questioned the MCCBCHST's motives in its opposition to the proposed amendments.
"It has the potential of creating disharmony between (the people of) different races and religions," he said in a statement.
"The proposed amendments to Act 355 do not violate any provision or the foundations of the Federal Constitution. It (proposed amendments) is valid and constitutional."
The former law minister urged the government to respond to MCCBCHST's claims.
It was previously reported that amendments to the law may be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat this year.
