He said other states in Malaysia would be free to introduce hudud enactments in their state legislatures, or for assembly members of PAS or Umno to push for criminal codes based on religious principles.
In a statement today, Chai pointed out that PAS had yet to be specific about any increase in criminal penalties beyond the existing “3-6-5″ safeguards, the maximum punishments of three years’ jail; six strokes of the rotan; and a RM5,000 fine for offences under syariah law.
Chai also said Hadi’s private member’s bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act ran counter to the “very grain of a secular society” as intended by the Reid Commission in drafting the Federal Constitution.
He said the MCA upheld the Federal Constitution as the supreme law and had been consistent in opposing the proposed amendments.
Chai also denied a Berita Harian report that MCA had not objected to the Syariah Courts act.
He said Cabinet Ministers from the MCA have previously said they would give up their Cabinet posts if Hadi’s Bill is passed in Parliament.