MP from Jerlun advocates for reintroducing Bill 355 in parliament
Malaysia's Bill 355: A Renewed Push for Enhanced Shariah Court Powers
In a recent development, Jerlun MP Abd Ghani Ahmad has called for the reintroduction of Bill 355 in Malaysia's Parliament. This private member's bill, initially tabled in April 2017, aimed to increase the powers of shariah courts, enabling them to impose penalties on par with civil courts.
The bill, approved by the Cabinet under the Perikatan Nasional government, was not tabled in Parliament due to its dissolution in October 2022. The bill's objective was to raise the maximum punishments the shariah courts could impose, surpassing the current limits of RM5,000 fines, three years imprisonment, and six lashes.
Last year, religious affairs minister Na'im Mokhtar stated that stakeholder engagements to amend Bill 355 were in their final stages, with plans to bring the amended bill to Parliament. However, as of August 2025, the bill has not yet been reintroduced.
Abd Ghani Ahmad's call for the re-tabling of Bill 355 was made during the debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan. He believes that such measures are necessary to deter corruption, going as far as suggesting maximum prison terms, heavy fines, or asset forfeiture as potential harsher penalties for corruption offenders.
It is important to note that these suggestions for harsher penalties against corruption offenders were made separately from the discussion about reintroducing Bill 355. PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang originally tabled the private member's bill.
The current status is that Bill 355 has not yet been placed back before Parliament, but there is strong political support and expectation that it will be reintroduced soon. The reintroduction of Bill 355 would mark a significant step in enhancing the powers of shariah courts in Malaysia and potentially strengthening the fight against corruption.
[1] Source: The Star Online, The Malaysian Insight, and Bernama
In the debates of the 13th Malaysia Plan, Jerlan MP Abd Ghani Ahmad advocated for reintroducing Bill 355, echoing the need for stronger legislation to combat corruption. He proposed harsher penalties like maximum prison terms and heavy fines, or even asset forfeiture. The original tabling of the private member's bill was by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, aiming to enhance the shariah court powers and impose penalties in line with civil courts. Despite religious affairs minister Na'im Mokhtar mentioning stakeholder engagements and a potential reintroduction of the amended bill last year, its status remains undecided, as of August 2025. However, the political support and expectation for reintroduction continue to hold strong, potentially marking a significant stride in Malaysia's policy-and-legislation regarding shariah courts and the fight against corruption.
