UMNO is ready to work with PAS to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 even though the parties are unable to compromise on other matters, said Annuar Musa.

According to a Bernama report, the Umno information chief said the parties should be more flexible in finding common ground for the sake of Muslims, and that disagreements did not bring any benefit to the people, especially Kelantan folk.

“If PAS wants to discuss the matter or cooperate, Umno has no problem with that,” he told reporters in Bachok last night.

Annuar said through the concept of “ta’awun” (cooperation), a lot of good could be achieved, including amending the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, also known as RUU355.

The Ketereh MP added that Umno was ready to face the 14th general election.

“We want to make it clear that we oppose whichever party that supports DAP, like Bersatu and PKR.

“We must oppose any party that supports DAP as we don’t want DAP to ‘take over’ even when it’s not the ruling party, like what has happened in Selangor.”

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang made history in April when he became the first opposition MP to be allowed to table a private member’s bill in the Dewan Rakyat.

On the last day of the first sitting of the year, the Marang MP tabled a motion to the government to amend RUU355.

Hadi wanted the government to raise the shariah court’s criminal jurisdiction to imprisonment for a term of 30 years, fine of RM100,000 and whipping of 100 strokes.

However, his success was short-lived as Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia did not permit debates on the motion and ended the sitting right after PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Baru) seconded the motion.

At the PAS muktamar in Alor Star the following month, Hadi thanked Putrajaya for the gesture and said the party would not forget the government for allowing it to table the bill. – October 8, 2017.