MCA: Cabinet, BN did not sanction Jamil to attend Act 355 rally

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom's planned attendance at the Act 355 rally tomorrow is not sanctioned by the cabinet or by BN, says MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan.

"Should Jamil or other cabinet ministers and BN members attend the 'Himpunan RUU355', this is on their individual accord and they do not represent the federal government or BN.

"Their attendance cannot be interpreted as the government or BN agreeing with PAS' proposal," said Ong, who is also Minister of International Trade and Industry II.

He said the matter was never raised by the government or by the ruling coalition.

"I wish to state that neither the cabinet nor the BN supreme council had ever discussed about supporting the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act, or Act 355," he said.

Ong was responding to PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan, who announced that Jamil Khir would be attending in his capacity as a minister and that it reflected the government's endorsement of the rally.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang was also quoted by Bernama today as confirming that government representatives would be present at the rally.- Mkini