AS the dust settles on the last day of the first Dewan Rakyat meeting of the year, PAS supporters say they have the last laugh, for now.

In social media postings and Facebook comments last night, PAS members celebrated the tabling of the controversial motion to amend the Shariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, also known as RUU355.

In the last act of the day, Marang MP Abdul Hadi Awang, who is also the PAS president, tabled RUU355. It was seconded by Kota Baru MP Takiyuddin Hassan, who is also the PAS secretary-general. However, before the debates could begin, Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia surprised the floor by ending the session sine die.

PAS members, however, welcomed the tabling of the motion anyhow.

“No PAS MP has ever taken a private member’s bill to this level. No other PAS leader has brought an important motion concerning the empowerment of shariah (laws) like this,” PAS Selangor deputy information chief Roslan Shahir wrote on his Facebook page yesterday.

Hadi had created history and it was even supported by some of the backbenchers, said Roslan, who once served as Hadi’s press secretary. The sentiment was echoed by Bukit Gantan MP Idris Ahmad (PAS).

“The feedback I have gotten from the members are, they are satisfied that the motion got tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.

“This shows that PAS can work in a lawful manner and not like how some quarters have accused us of being Taliban or IS (Islamic State),” Idris told The Malaysian Insight in a telephone interview today.

Although the motion was cut short, the PAS vice-president said is a good step towards explaining what RUU355 is about.

“To some extent, it rectifies some of the incorrect or negative image about the motion to non-Muslims.

“What happened yesterday was an open question-and-answer session that was conducted in a scholarly, legal and democratic fashion.”

On whether PAS would reintroduce the motion in the next session, Idris said the party would need to discuss the matter again.

“Whether we can put it in again also depends on the standing orders,” said Idris, who a current member of the Syura Council.

 But not everyone is overjoyed at what transpired in Parliament yesterday.

“This is not even the first reading. It’s just the tabling of the motion and the seconder’s speech. We did not get the chance to go to the debate and voting stage,” said former Padang Terap MP Mohd Nasir Zakaria.

“But this is nevertheless a positive step,” Nasir told The Malaysian Insight.

Nasir said he had hoped that the motion could have been debated and voted on.

 “If the majority of members were in favour of the motion, the government would have to take over and introduce the motion for first reading.” – April 7, 2017.