Kelantan PAS' plan to table the hudud amendments tomorrow has not only strained ties within Pakatan but also put the Islamic party's leaders at odds.

PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar ( below ) today defended PAS Kelantan's insistence on the amendments, stating that Pakatan ally DAP must respect the democratic process in the state.

He added even though the amendment has the support of Umno, it did not mean that PAS and Umno was forming a new coalition.

"The aspirations and will of the people who have given PAS the mandate to rule in Kelantan since 1990 until 2015 for 25 years must be respected," he said in a statement.

However, PAS central commitee member Mujahid Yusof Rawa pointed out this does not appear to be the will of the people, pointing to a Merdeka Centre survey which showed 84 percent of Kelantanese wanting the state government to focus on providing relief from last year's devastating floods.

He pointed out that according Islamic law, the issue of public interest should take precedence with a government.

"The voice of the voters must be heeded as they are concerned that with state assembly focussing on other matters, it may have an impact on their fate. They may also be supporters of the Kelantan PAS government," Mujahid ( below ) said in a statement today.

Call for debate

PAS will tomorrow in Kota Bahru table amendments to the Syariah Criminal Code Enactment II 1993 at the Kelantan state assembly sitting. This will be a first step towards implementing the theocratic law.

DAP has warned that if PAS goes ahead with the tabling, it could lead to a break-up of Pakatan Rakyat.

Meanwhile, a coalition of NGOs under the banner of Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia said the hudud amendments bill is inconsistent with the federal constitution and should first be addressed by Parliament.

"Beyond the law-making process, we would like to call for an open discourse and debate on the issue of hudud.  

"As the implementation of hudud will, without any doubt, affect all Malaysians regardless of religious affiliation, ethnic background or state of residence, all Malaysians should be allowed to discuss the issue as all are stakeholders of this country," said the group of 22 NGOs.

They include the Islamic Renaissance Front, Jihad for Justice, Sisters in Islam and Suaram.