Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong launched a broadside against Lim Guan Eng, accusing the DAP leader of inciting the public to despise MCA president Liow Tiong Lai.

Apart from demanding the resignations of others, Mah asked if Lim was bankrupt of other suggestions.

"I read a lot about Lim asking Liow to resign as (transport) minister, claiming the latter had no dignity over the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 or Act 355," he said.

He was referring to Lim reiterating his call during the DAP convention over the weekend.

"It is your party's conference, talk about what you want to do, talk about Dr Mahathir (Mahathir who attended the convention). Other than criticising others and asking people to resign, don't you have other suggestions?" asked Mah.

"Talk about what your own party and what were the issues you have overcome instead of constantly asking MCA and Gerakan (leaders) to resign," he added.

According to the plantation industries and commodities minister, DAP lawmakers had remained silent on PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's motion to amend Act 355.

"I don't seen DAP making any effort on this. During the parliament sitting, they didn't say anything. Some even went missing. But, (Lim) just keeps attacking and creating hatred," he added.

Lim had said Liow should absent himself from the next cabinet meeting and resign if he is a man with dignity.

He, however felt Liow would be unable to let go of his government position and would "crawl back" to Putrajaya to attend the meeting.

"Shame on you, you are not wanted but you refuse to let go," said Lim at the DAP conference, adding that Liow would decline to quit as he had no dignity.

Najib had announced that the government would take over Hadi's bill to amend Act 355.

Hadi's bill seeks to raise the sentencing limit of the syariah court from a maximum RM3,000 fine, six strokes of the cane and five-year jail limit to a maximum 30 years' jail, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the cane.

On Nov 22, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi briefed Muslim MPs on Hadi's bill.

BN component parties MCA, MIC and Gerakan said they would oppose the bill in its current form, arguing that it was unconstitutional.

In May, both Liow and Mah, as well as MIC president and Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam had threatened to resign their cabinet posts if the bill was passed.

Meanwhile, Mah who officiated Tanggam Design Centre (TDC) at Kota Damansara, said he was confident that Malaysia, which was currently the eight biggest furniture export country, would emerge as the top five in 10 years' time.

TDC is a design centre and platform set up under Malaysian Timber Industry Board to grow local furniture designers, in line with the government's aim to transform the country from an original equipment manufacturing (OEM) to original design manufacturing (ODM) country.

"We hope to achieve 70 percent of ODM worth RM16 billion of furniture export in 2020," he said.

Mah also said Malaysia needed to focus to develop its strength to become a champion instead of concentrating on the astronaut programme.

"We can leave the astronaut programme to other countries to do," he said when delivering the speech at the event.

"But, the previous astronaut (programme) was okay," he said, referring to the country's first astronaut programme in sending Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masrie Sheikh Mustapha to the international space station in 2007.

Mah also noted Malaysia might miss its target in exporting RM10 billion worth of furniture this year due to the lack of workers, among other reasons.

"The industry (players) told me that some orders were delayed and lost due to lack of workers problem. We are working hard to resolve the issue and I was told that Bangladeshi workers will come to Malaysia in two weeks' time.

"I hope this will resolve or reduce the problem," he added.