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Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM),
Centre of Malaysian Chinese Studies and Persatuan
Belia Xiang Lian Malaysia jointly hosted an online
forum on the topic ‘Resurgence of Amendments to
Act 355’ on 9 and 10 October 2021. The bilingual
forum aimed to provide a platform for the presenters
to analyse the potential impact of the proposed
amendment to Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction)
Act 1965 (Act 355) and to raise awareness of the
development history of the said act and Syariah
Court.
颜炳寿（右上）和符芳侨（下）为中文线上座谈会的分享人，主持
The organiser invited the Co-President of Centre for a 人为王一宏（左上）。
Better Tomorrow (CENBET), Gan Ping Sieu, and Parti Gan Ping Sieu (top right) and Hu Pang Chaw (bottom) were the speakers of the
Mandarin forum. The moderator was Ong Yee Hong (top left).
Amanah Negara Central Committee Hu Pang Chaw as
the presenter on the Mandarin online forum, while
YBAM Melaka SLC Committee Ong Yee Hong as the The English forum on the second day was presented
moderator. by lawyer and activist Siti Zabedah Kasim and renown
Malay scholar Professor Dr. Mohd. Tajuddin Bin
At the forum, Gan Ping Sieu stressed that the proposed Mohd. Rasdi, moderated by YBAM General Secretary
amendment would increase the jurisdiction of the Eow Shiang Yen.
Act. The Islamic ecosysrtem would become the main
component in the national public domain, bringing Siti Kasim said that Malaysians, regardless of Muslims
more hidden worries to non-Muslims. or non-Muslims, have the rights to voice out on the
amendments to Act 355 to defend the basic structure
He added, if the Syariah law is on par with the civil of Federal Constitution. The Act will have an impact
law, it is not in line with the national legal system. This on the fundamental structure of Federal Constitution
is because the Muslim community is only part of the which will impact non-Muslims. Therefore, we need
national population, and not everyone needs to be to voice out and stand up for the Constitution.
subjected to the Syariah Law. He further mentioned
that religious precepts and civil laws should not She said the Parliament is the core of the nation.
overlapp, especially in matters related to criminal We need courageous leaders and members of the
cases. Parliament to reform the country. She felt that the
citizens should choose the right representatives to
Hu Pang Chaw felt that to reduce racism, religionism, make proper laws and policies in the Parliament.
and Islamisation, there is a need to first solve the Only the top-down changes can reform the nation.
economic issues of the Muslim group in order to
reduce the extreme racial ideology. He said in a Having a different opinion, Professor Dr. Mohd
straightforward manner that the Chinese community Tajuddin suggested that non-Malays and non-
has limited understanding of Islam. Furthermore, Muslims should remain as observers, leaving the
the different ethnic communities live in their own matter to the Muslims to resolve. Other religious
community without much interaction with each organisations have the right to stand up to the Federal
other, resulting in misunderstanding. Constitution, but it had to be done wisely.

As for the amendments to Act 355, Hu Pang Chaw ‘Silence is not cowardice, but a wise and strategic
felt that the newer generation of the Malay society move, this should be the response for this sensitive
may not agree. He said the Chinese community need issue. Otherwise, our actions will expedite Islamisation
not be too worried, the most important matter is progress. The civil society and non-Muslims need to
to resolve the impact of racism and religionism on review the way of interaction and their reaction to
Malaysia. the topic, and this is also an issue by itself.’

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