Why are Malaysian State rulers not consulted on Islamic laws amendments?

Why ask me I do not know why they are sidelined , Please go and ask Najib

Why are Malaysian State rulers not consulted on Islamic laws amendments?

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 March 2017:

Former chief justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim yesterday said any proposal or amendment to laws which involve Islam, had to be presented to the Conference of Rulers before it could be tabled in Parliament.

This include the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 Amendment Bill (RUU 355), he said.

As the head of Islam, he noted the Malay rulers had an important role in deciding matters pertaining to Islam.

“I observe the debate, questions on why RUU 355 is not presented to the rulers before it is tabled in parliament has a logic to it.

“This is clearly stated the Federal Constitution which requires matters pertaining to Islam to be referred to the Conference of Rulers,” he said during a question and answer session on a lecture “Islam as the Law of the Land” here.

Ahmad Fairuz, who as the chief justice between 2003 and 2007, said the role of the Conference of Rulers as the head of Islam should not be ignored.

“The syariah court exists because of Islam. Therefore, anything that concerns Islam has to be referred to the Conference of Rulers for approval before the tabling in Parliament.”

Questioned why the non-Muslims are against RUU 355, despite it not affecting them, Ahmad Fairuz said he could not find a strong excuse for the non-Muslims to oppose the proposed law.

“The RUU 355 does not involve the non-Muslims at all. Why should they worry?”

On the need to amend the law, he opined it was due to the rise in crimes under the law.

“The heavier penalty is hoped will reduce the offences committed by Muslims as the existing punishment is not enough to make them remorseful or instil fear,”

The first reading of the bill was done by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang Hadi during the last session of the Dewan Rakyat last year.

The bill seeks, among others, to amend Section 2 of the law to empower Islamic courts to enforce punishment, except for the death penalty, provided in syariah laws for Islamic offences listed under state jurisdiction in the Federal Constitution