Hadi's bill to be tabled and deferred again

The motion on PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's private member's bill is expected to tabled by Thursday at the latest, and deferred yet again.

BN MPs were informed of this during a briefing by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

This was confirmed to Malaysiakini by an Umno MP, who declined to be named as those present were asked not to speak to the media.

"I think it is on the last day - on Thursday. Furthermore, it is just tabling of the bill, I think there is no debate," said the source.

If this scenerio were to happen, it would be the third time Hadi's motion would be tabled and deferred during the Dewan Rakyat sitting.

Last Sunday, Zahid stated that Hadi's private member's bill motion to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, or Act 355, would not go for a vote during the current Dewan Rakyat sitting.

However, at the time, he did not reveal that the motion would be tabled.

Automatic priority

According to the source, MPs from BN component parties such as MCA and MIC were also present at the briefing.

Asked if MCA and other component parties objected to the tabling of the motion, the Umno MP said Zahid didn't seek their opinion but was merely there to brief them.

"No, actually the deputy prime minister never asked them. (It was) Just (to) brief," he said.

As Hadi's motion was tabled and deferred during the previous Dewan Rakyat sitting, it enjoys priority and sits at the top of other non-government matters, by virtue of Standing Order 15(5).

This means the government does not need to prioritise Hadi's bill during the next Dewan Rakyat sitting.

Once all government matters are cleared during the next Dewan Rakyat sitting, Hadi's bill would be the next thing on the agenda.

However, the final decision still lies with Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.

The last day of the Dewan Rakyat sitting falls on Thursday.- Mkini