PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s application to strike out a bid to block him from tabling a bill to amend the Syariah Act (Criminal Jurisdiction) 1965, will be heard on Sept 28.

Senior federal counsel (SFC) Shamsul Bolhassan told reporters that Justice Asmabi Mohamad set the date in chambers today when Abdul Hadi’s application was brought for case management.

The SFC is representing Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia and deputy speakers, Ismail Mohamed Said and Ronald Kiandee, and Dewan Rakyat secretary Roosme Hamzah.

The four had been named second to fifth defendants, while Abdul Hadi, the first defendant in a suit filed by four individuals, Mansoor Saat, Azira Aziz, Hasbeemaputra Abu Bakar and Hazwany Jamaluddin.

Abdul Hadi said in his affidavit in support that the plaintiffs had no right to block the proposal, tabling and debate of the bill.

He also contended that the originating summons filed by Mansoor, Azira, Hasbeemaputra and Hazwany had no merit, and that he, as an assemblyperson, had the privilege and immunity to move it.

Abdul Hadi filed the application on July 2 through Messrs Wan Jawahir & Takiyuddin, while the plaintiffs filed the originating summons on June 12.

The plaintiffs are also seeking a declaration that the proposed amendment was a breach by Abdul Hadi of the terms in the Pakatan Rakyat’s ‘Purple Book’.

- Bernama