Tuan Ibrahim (centre) being greeted by party members upon arrival. — Bernama photo
KOTA BAHARU: PAS has stated its preparedness to have dialogue with any quarters to explain the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill 2016.
Deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the party was not hasty in wanting to implement the legislation but was prepared to give ample room for the Bill to be debated in Parliament.
“We have tabled the Bill and we are prepared to give room for debate,” he said when opening the 57th PAS Youth Muktamar (Assembly) here yesterday.
Tuan Ibrahim said the Bill, tabled by PAS president and Marang MP Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang in the Dewan Rakyat by way of a Private Member’s Bill last Thursday, was aimed at enhancing the Syariah Courts and had nothing to do with non-Muslims.
He also said that PAS promised that any change the party intended to bring about would not undermine regulations, laws and the Federal Constitution which it also upheld.
Pasir Mas MP and PAS Youth chief Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz, addressing the assembly, said the Bill should be debated with civility and wisdom.
Meanwhile, PAS Youth yesterday suggested that the party field its own candidates in the seats it had ‘loaned’ to its PKR and DAP allies in the opposition pact in the last general election.
Its chief, Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz, said PAS’ experience of having worked together within the opposition pact should be taken as a lesson so that the party was not used by other parties.
“Past experience has served as a lesson. The sincere efforts of our members were taken advantage of by our colleagues for their victory and we were abandoned.
“If the party leadership takes the bold step of contesting the seats loaned to PKR and DAP in the last general election, PAS Youth pledges to do its utmost to ensure victory for PAS,” he said.
Nik Mohamad Abduh, who is the MP for Pasir Mas, said PAS Youth hoped that the party’s top leadership undertook a review of the distribution of parliamentary and state seats to be contested by the party in the next general election, due in 2018.
Nik Mohamad Abduh also urged PAS Youth to safeguard the concept of ‘ulama’ leadership initiated by the party’s past leaders.
“This concept is not seasonal. It has been the backbone of the PAS struggle and determines the direction and future prospects of PAS.
“The PAS leadership is the DNA that makes PAS a unique and special Islamic movement compared to other Islamic movements in the eyes of researchers of today,” he said. — Bernama