International Trade and Industry Minister II Ong Ka Chuan revealed today that Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi raised PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill in the cabinet meeting before it was tabled, but was short on details.

Ong said in the cabinet meeting on May 20, which was chaired by Zahid, the deputy prime minister only posed a hypothetical question to ministers on what they thought if "someone" were to introduce a bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, also known as Act 355.

Therefore, Ong said, it came as a surprise when the bill turned out to be more than just a hypothetical question when it went to the floor on May 26, with the government's support.

"He did not say it (would be tabled), he just asked if someone were to table an amendment to Act 355 – just a hypothetical question – what did we think about it?

"All of us were of the opinion that this cannot be accepted," he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

Asked how Zahid reacted, Ong said the deputy prime minister did not give any response after the ministers objected to the "hypothetical" tabling of such a bill.

Question not in minutes or agenda

He said that the question was raised informally and was not in the minutes or agenda of the cabinet meeting.

Ong said the normal procedure was to bring such matters to the BN supreme council, after which these would be taken to the cabinet for discussion.

However, Hadi's Bill never went through this procedure, he added.

Ong also revealed that Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said was also present during the meeting.

Asked why Azalina moved the motion to prioritise Hadi's Bill on May 26, even though she was aware of the circumstances of the May 20 meeting, Ong said: "This, you have to ask Umno.”

He added that the government should not be supporting any bill from the opposition.