Several PAS leaders met leaders of the Malacca-Johor Catholic Diocese yesterday to discuss issues related to religious harmony in Malaysia, including the recently passed amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976.

The meeting saw both parties exchanging views on maintaining harmony in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, said Johor PAS commissioner Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil in a statement today.

"Several issues were raised during the meeting including the amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 and the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, hudud law and inter-ethnic and inter-religious ties," said Khairul Faizi.

Khairul said PAS central committee member Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz told the meeting that "kejahilan (ignorance)" on religious issues has led to deteriorating ties between Malaysians of different religious backgrounds.

"Religion leads to harmony, that is why PAS is inclined towards harmony. There is no religion that leads its adherents towards the negative," Nik Abduh was quoted as saying.

According to Khairul, Bishop Anthony Bernard Paul of the Malacca-Johor Diocese had thanked the PAS delegation for reaching out and trying to build a "bridge" between different communities in an effort to create a more harmonious society.

Khairul said that some of the suggestions put forth at the dialogue will be brought to the PAS central committee for further discussion.

"We hope that such meetings would draw PAS closer towards Malaysians who comprise of those of different religions," he added.

The meeting took place at the Majodi Centre in Masai, Johor.