BN's decision on amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act (Act 355) will still have to be made by consensus, even after the relevant bill is taken over by the federal government.

This is what Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said in response to Umno supreme council member Ahmad Maslan, who said BN component parties are compelled to support the bill as part of the ruling coalition.

"It is a bit too premature to make any stand on behalf of BN.

"This needs a series of further discussions among BN component parties.

"After that, I hope we can make a consensus decision," Khairy, who is also Umno Youth chief, said at a press conference, after handing out new schoolbags to children at an event outside SK Wangsa Maju today.

Ahmad Maslan had said that with the government taking over the bill first proposed by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, BN component parties would have to support the bill.

MCA, MIC and Gerakan have all objected to the bill in the past, with their top leaders threatening to resign if it is passed.

But now that Putrajaya will take over the bill, it is uncertain what the new position of these BN component parties is.

Hadi tabled the motion to amend Act 355 during the Dewan Rakyat sitting last month. The matter would be debated during the next Dewan Rakyat session in March.

When the motion moves to the second reading stage, it would be taken over and read by Islamic Affairs Minister Jamil Khir Baharom.