PAS is waiting for the Hokkien Associations of Malaysia to set a date for both parties to hold a dialogue over the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, also known as Act 355.

Its deputy information chief Roslan Shahir Mohd Shahir said the party hopes to explain to the associations about the Private Member's Bill to amend the Act tabled by its president Abdul Hadi Awang and due to be debated in the next Parliament sitting in October.

This follows the Hokkien Associations' campaign to collect one million signatures to call for a rejection of the proposed amendments to Act 355.

"We are waiting for the date to hold the dialogue session. Both sides have met officially before.

"We are not questioning the Hokkien Associations' right (to do so), but we are looking at an approach for both sides to talk it over nicely," he said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Roslan said that PAS is willing to answer any and all invitations to explain to those who are still confused about the proposed amendments to Act 355.

"Specifically, for anyone who oppose or protest against our amendments, we will endeavour to meet (and discuss) with them.

"Up till now, we will meet all, NGOs or the private sector," he said.

While proponents argued that the amendments are only to strengthen the Syariah Court in line with present developments, critics fear that its sole purpose was to allow the implementation of hudud, which now restricts the Syariah Court to punishment up to three years in jail, six strokes of the rotan and maximum fine of RM5,000.

Hadi's bill would free the Syariah Court to mete out other punishments including those defined in the Islamic penal code.

Hokkien Associations president Khoo Chai Ka had said that after Sept 20, whatever signatures they garner, in addition to the 600,000 already gathered, will be sent along with their petition to all 222 members of Parliament.

This has led the Ulama Lovers and Supporters Group, or Geng Ustaz for short, to lodge a police report against the Hokkien Associations for allegedly infringing on the rights of Muslims to practise their religion as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.