PAS has left it to Umno to explain the Private Member’s Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 355 to BN component parties, said secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan today.

He was speaking during a press conference for the 62nd PAS muktamar in Kota Bharu.

According to Takiyuddin, PAS has been given the assurance that Umno supports the proposal to amend the Act.

“So, I feel it’s more appropriate for Umno - as the leading party in BN - to explain the issue, instead of us.

“From a procedural point, this Private Member’s Bill may have been tabled by Marang parliamentarian (PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang). However, although it was from PAS, it does not officially represent PAS.

“The bill was tabled by an individual. He is not considered a member of the government; it was not PAS who tabled the bill but a parliamentarian who happened to be from PAS,” Takiyuddin said.

Last Thursday, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had tabled the Private Member’s Bill in Parliament after Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said proposed to move the bill up the day’s agenda, and was seconded by Deputy Works Minister Rosnah Rashid Shirlin.

This had prompted lightning-quick responses of protest from BN component parties like MCA, MIC, Gerakan and SUPP, which criticised the move.

Bill approved by cabinet

According to Takiyuddin, he was made to understand that the bill to amend the Syariah Court’s powers was brought to the cabinet after it was tabled in Parliament.

“I understand the bill had been explained and it was said that the cabinet had approved it. If it had not been approved, it would have been impossible for a cabinet minister to allow the bill to be moved from number 15 to number one.

“The bill must have had the cabinet’s consent. Other than that, I am not sure what the non-Muslim parties don’t understand,” Takiyuddin added.

The Kota Bharu MP also said the amendment of Act 355 does not concern the non-Muslim citizens of the country.

“This involves the Syariah Court, which is only utilised by Muslims. It involves the Syariah Court Act, and the amendment concerns criminal cases... If it had concerned civil cases, then there would have been involvement (of non-Muslims).

“I also wish to clarify that the amendment of Act 355 has no connections to the Kelantan-headed enactment before this.

“Even if there had not been any Kelantan hudud laws, Act 355 needs to be amended. But it only involves the Syariah Court,” Takiyuddin added.