Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak yesterday separately met BN component party leaders on the controversial amendment to the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 or Act 355 issue, reported Oriental Daily. 

The daily quoted a source saying that the BN parties, particularly the ones from Sarawak, expressed their objections to the proposal to amend Act 355. 

As a result of the objections, no decisions were made, leaving Najib in a dilemma, said the source. 

"The matter may be brought up again at the BN supreme council meeting," the source added. 

Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Masing confirmed the meeting with Najib to Borneo Post but declined to divulge what transpired. 

"Yes, all BN heads of political parties from Sarawak and Sabah met the prime minister on RUU 355 (Act 355). However, details of discussion are not for public consumption yet," said Masing.

According to Oriental Daily, Najib had initially planned to table the amendments in Parliament on April 6, the last day of this parliamentary session, but is now expected to postpone it. 

The daily speculated that the sitting of the Dewan Rakyat may be extended to April 10, to facilitate discussions on the matter during a BN leaders' retreat scheduled between April 7 and April 9. 

The secretary to the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Azalina Othman Said, told the daily that there may be an extension to the current Parliament session.

The proposed amendments to Act 355 was initially brought up by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang. 

It seeks to increase the maximum penalties imposed by syariah courts to 30 years jail, 100 strokes of the rotan and RM100,000 fine. 

The bill has since been taken over by the government.