The Malaysian Insight

THE main priority of the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government is to save the country from going bankrupt, said Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, adding that enhancing shariah is not that important right now.

Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu, was commenting on reports about PAS urging Amanah to raise the RUU355 or Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) bill in the Dewan Rakyat.

Mohamad, who was a former PAS leader, said the bill was not a priority.

“Amanah has a meeting on Tuesday. We can discuss it if there is such an agenda. This is something we have to consult Islamic experts. But the priority for PH now is fighting corruption and abuse,” the defence minister told reporters at his buka puasa open house in Kg Guar Petai, Tasek Gelugor in Penang today.

Mohamad said everyone was aware of the RM1 trillion national debt and the abuses by the previous administration such as those related to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.

“Those exposes have shocked us all. So the priority of all ministries in the PH government is the economy and the people.

“Now is the time to save Malaysia so we do not end up like Greece. If we don’t deal with the situation well, we risk becoming bankrupt. The people will then suffer.

“RUU355 is something that PH and Amanah can discuss from time to time,” he said.

Earlier today, PAS vice-president Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said Amanah lawmakers must honour their promise to get RUU355 tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.

He said Amanah leaders had claimed they needed to first form the government to bring up the matter.

Amanah is part of the ruling coalition of PH, which had booted out Barisan Nasional in GE14.

The previous BN administration allowed PAS president and Marang MP Abdul Hadi Awang to table the bill, which sought to enhance punishment for Shariah offences, in the April 2017 Dewan Rakyat sitting. But the bill has yet to be debated. – May 27, 2018.