A coalition of Muslim NGOs under the banner of Sekretariat Ummat is planning to hold a peaceful rally in support of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Members' Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, or Act 355.

The coalition's chairperson Aminuddin Yahaya said the rally would seek to gather signatures for a petition to support the amendments which would then be submitted to BN and PAS leaders as well as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

"The peaceful rally is to strengthen support for MPs, particularly Muslims (to back the bill)," he told a press conference after chairing a roundtable meeting on the issue at the Putrajaya Syariah court complex.

Aminuddin said his coalition would comprise of some 500 Muslim NGOs including Perkasa, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), National Silat Federation (Pesaka) and Malaysian Muslim Consumer Association (PPIM).

He said the rally would take place after Friday prayers at Masjid Negara on June 24.

Last month, Hadi was allowed to table the bill to amend Act 355 which will remove the limit on the punishments Syariah Courts can mete out.

This will allow the enforcement of the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code II Enactment which provides for hudud punishments, including caning of between 40 and 100 times.

At present, Act 355 limits the Syariah Courts' punishments to a maximum of three years imprisonment, RM5,000 fine and six strokes of the rotan.

However, Hadi later asked that it be postponed to allow time for MPs to study the proposed legislation.

Aminuddin said the Sekretariat Ummah would approach all stakeholders to push for the bill as well as approaching non-Muslims to explain the matter.

"We will explain to the entire nation to improve the perception (towards the bill) among all walks of society.

"We will approach non-Muslims to have dialogue with them and correct the misperception towards the bill," he said.

He stressed that the bill was more about strengthening the Syariah Courts than it is about hudud.