PARLIAMENT | Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia today refused to confirm what will happen to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's motion after Parliament is dissolved.

On the last day of the 13th Parliament session today, Takiyuddin Hassan (PAS - Kota Bharu) had sought for clarification if Hadi's motion will be carried forward to the 14th session after the general election.

The carry forward is important for PAS as the motion had already been tabled last year and only requires debate. This gives it priority other non-government business.

However, Pandikar refused to give a straight answer.

"In the new Parliament, I don't know who will sit on the right side (government) or who will sit on the left side (opposition).

"Even if I make a ruling now, my ruling will not be relevant," he said.

Hadi's motion seeks to introduce a private member's bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, or Act 355.

The private member's bill seeks to increase the syariah punishment under Act 355 from three years imprisonment, RM5,000 fine and six strokes to the rotan to 10 years imprisonment, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the rotan.

This would allow states to impose punishments for certain offences that are consistent with hudud requirements.

Not giving up

However, the Islamist party has not given up hope that the bill will see the light of day in the next session.

“We will write to the speaker, and we will put forward the bill again.

"If it is not taken up (now), we will have it listed (on the order paper) in the 14th session,” he told reporter today outside Parliament.

Additional reporting by Anne Muhammad.