An interfaith group has urged MPs to oppose PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill when it is debated in Parliament in the next sitting.

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) in a statement today made an "urgent appeal" to all Malaysians to oppose Hadi's amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.

The amendments seek to raise the punishment limits allowable by syariah courts, and will remove the final obstacle to Kelantan's hudud enactment passed unanimously in 2015 at state level by a house comprising a majority of PAS and Umno assemblypersons.

"As the bill will have far-reaching consequences for the nation, the MCCBCHST feels duty bound to challenge our elected representatives in Parliament to do their duty as required by their solemn oath to preserve and protect the federal constitution which embodies the secular status of our country.

"The MCCBCHST has consistently maintained that there is no necessity of implementing hudud in a multiracial and multireligious society like Malaysia," said the council.

The joint statement was signed by its president Jit Heng, deputy president RS Mohan Shan, vice-presidents bishop Sebastian Francis, Jagir Singh, Tan Hoe Chieow and secretary-general Prematilaka Serisana.

"We feel duty bound to oppose any form of a dual criminal system in the country.

"We join hands with fellow Malaysians to build a just country, politically strong to face the challenges from forces of retrogression and reaction," they said.

They stressed the supremacy of the federal constitution agreed upon by the parties to Malaysia's founding.

"In 1957 the Conference of Rulers, the government of the Federation of Malaya, comprising Umno, MCA and MIC, and the British government agreed to the enactment of the federal constitution of Malaya on the basis of the recommendations of the Reid Commission.

"Article 4 provides that the constitution is the supreme law of the Federation and any law passed after Merdeka Day which is inconsistent with the constitution shall to the extent of the inconsistency, be void," said MCCBCHST.

They added, partners in the formation of Malaysia - Sabah, Sarawak, and at the time Singapore - had been based on the fact that there was no stated intention to introduce religious laws, attested by the 20 points for Sabah and 18 points for Sarawak agreements.

Hadi's controversial bill, which was one of the factors in the break up of then Pakatan Rakyat, is expected to be debated at the upcoming parliamentary sitting.

Despite BN component parties' objections against the bill, at the last Umno general assembly Prime Minister Najib Razak announced the government intends to take over the bill.