PAS will hold a rally in support of amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act (Act 355) at Dataran Merdeka on Feb 18.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the rally is open to all Malaysians regardless of race, religion and political affiliation.

He expects more than 300,000 people to turn up for the rally.

"This rally can help to dispel any doubts and concerns by the public," Tuan Ibrahim said at a press conference in Shah Alam today.

He said they were still waiting for approval for the rally to be held in Dataran Merdeka.

"We have alternative (venues) but we're confident we can secure (Dataran Merdeka)," he added.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had read out a motion on the proposed private member's bill to amend Act 355 on the last day of Parliament last November.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has said that the government will be taking over the bill.

Hadi had initially sought to remove caps limiting punishments that can be dealt by Syariah Courts.

This raised concerns that the amendments would pave the way for the implementation of hudud law.

However Hadi has since revised his amendments, to raise the punishment limit to 30 years’ jail, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the whip.

The bill is expected to be tabled in the next Parliament session in March.