Gerakan is concerned with the latest statement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mej Jen Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom in Parliament yesterday that hudud law was “complementary to criminal law and could be recommended to deal with snatch thieves.”

Gerakan Youth Chief Lim Si Pin said the statement could cause confusion and uneasiness amongst the people, especially non-Muslims.

An aspect of hudud law or hukum hudud calls for chopping the hand of offenders who stole or snatched handbags.

“We can make amendments to our criminal law if it is too lenient to deal with the increasing number of crimes taking place daily, especially snatch thefts when victims were dragged from their motorcycles, resulting in injuries and deaths,” said Lim in a statement.

Lim said although hudud law was only applicable to Muslims, other communities felt that it was not suitable in our multi-ethnic and multi -cultural society.

Lim however said it was good that the government was taking a serious view to combat crimes, whether major or minor, as our society was becoming too sophisticated.