Three BN parties are adamant in opposing PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill to amend the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, on grounds that it is unconstitutional

MIC, MCA and Gerakan said the bill, despite amendments by Abdul Hadi, will create a parallel legal system and go against the spirit of the Federal Constitution.

Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong said Gerakan MPs were ready to vote against the bill.

"Gerakan respects Islam... (but) we cannot have separate laws," Mah told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

"We must have a committee to discuss this thoroughly, to ensure it doesn't go against the Federal Constitution and does not conflict with the Penal Code."

Hadi today tabled a motion to seek leave to table the bill, but deferred elaborating on the motion to the next Dewan Rakyat session next year as today is the last day of the ongoing session.

At present, the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, limits the sentencing power of the syariah court to RM5,000 fine, six lashes and three years' jail.

Hadi's original bill had wanted these caps lifted. However, he amended his bill, which now seeks to limit the sentencing power to RM100,000 fine, 100 lashes and 30 years' jail.

"His previous bill was open-ended, now he has come up with a cap... but even when we look at that, it is not in accordance with the Federal Constitution," MCA president Liow Tiong Lai said.

MIC president Dr S Subramaniam said his party has made its stand clear to Barisan Nasional chairperson Najib Abdul Razak.

The bill is "worrying and unacceptable" on the background of the Kelantan Islamic Enactment, which has hudud elements of sentencing, Subramaniam said in a statement.

"We are deeply concerned that any attempt to have a parallel legal system with overlapping jurisdictions and duplication of penalties will lead to confusion and disharmony," he said.

On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi held a special briefing for Muslim MPs on the bill.

During the briefing, participants had agreed there needs to be a parliamentary select committee consisting of Muslim and non-Muslim MPs to review the proposed amendments.

Mah said Gerakan would propose party secretary-general Liang Teck Meng and deputy youth chief Andy Yong to be part of the committee.

Yong led Gerakan's legal challenge on the constitutionality of the Kelantan syariah enactment, which has elements of hudud punishments.

DAP is strongly opposed to the bill while PKR said yesterday it cannot make a stand on the bill until it hears Hadi's explanation first.

However, PKR said any amendments must adhere to the spirit of the Federal Constitution and Malaysia Agreement 1963.