PETALING JAYA: PAS MP Khairuddin Aman Razali says the Islamist party has yet to raise its proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (RUU 355) to the new Perikatan Nasional coalition as it is still too early to do so.

The Kuala Nerus MP said the coalition needs to discuss other issues first such as its direction and Cabinet line-up.

“For now, we need to manage the differing views of political parties and the differing views of ministers (after the line-up is introduced).

“We also need to look at the needs of non-Muslims, not just the Muslims,” he told FMT.

PAS had previously urged the former Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to debate and amend the act. But Khairuddin said Perikatan Nasional also needs to consider the needs of the poor and to build up the country’s economy.

As the Dewan Rakyat will only convene in May, he added, his party still has two months before discussions on RUU 355 are held.

On the Cabinet line-up, he said it was up to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

“PAS has no intention to grab positions,” he said. “We leave it to the prime minister.”

It is understood that leaders from Umno, MCA, MIC, PPBM and PAS are in a series of meetings to discuss the new Cabinet.

PAS has 18 MPs while Barisan Nasional’s 42 MPs support Muhyiddin, who was sworn in on Feb 29, marking the collapse of the PH government.

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/03/05/too-early-to-discuss-ruu-355-says-pas-man/