PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan has expressed regret that the Federation of Hokkien Associations Malaysia missed the opportunity to seek answers from PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang in relation to the proposed amendments to Act 355 concerning syariah law.

"The association should have taken the opportunity fully by asking questions, offering their views or engaging in a dialogue to understand the real status of Act 355.

"But unfortunately, they did not open up the space and pose any question to the president despite the fact that Hadi explained in simple language and a direct manner," he said in a statement today.

The dialogue between Hadi and the Hokkien Federation yesterday achieved very little as the federation president Khoo Chai Kaa pledged to continue its one million signatures campaign to oppose efforts to amend Act 355 or the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.

The organisers said they had a mutual understanding with PAS that there would be no question and answer session at the event.

The proposed amendments would pave the way for Kelantan to implement hudud, which was unanimously passed at the state level last year but put on hold because of obstacles in federal law.

Despite this, Nasrudin, who is also Temerloh MP, vowed that his party will continue to engage the Hokkien Federation until it understands the matter.

"PAS is always ready with an open heart to explain to all quarters.

"If the Hokkien Federation feels that they cannot comprehend the matter in a single meeting, then we will continue to provide explanations to them," he said.

Nasrudin however asked the relevant party to refrain from opposing Islam and the sought amendment of Act 355 without first knowing its real status.

PAS, led by Hadi, will organise a special explanation to the media on Sept 29 on the proposed amendments made through Hadi's controversial Private Member's Bill.

The special meeting will be held at PAS' headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

The Private Member's Bill tabled by Hadi is due to be debated in the coming parliamentary sitting next month.

The bill seeks to lift the limit on punishments that the syariah courts can mete out, beyond the current three years' jail, six strokes of the rotan and maximum fine of RM5,000.

While the PAS president claims his bill is not related to hudud, the proposed amendments would allow states that have enacted the Islamic criminal law - Terengganu and Kelantan - to start meting out such penalties.