Hadi must resign, says former PAS vice-president

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang must immediately resign over the latest development on the amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act (Act 355), former party vice-president Husam Musa says.

Husam, who is now with the PAS splinter party - Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) - said the “shock” was expected despite BN giving the impression that the matter would be tabled in Parliament.

He was referring to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's announcement on Wednesday that the government would not be taking over Hadi's private member's bill on the amendments.

Husam said he was asking the PAS president and the committee to step down because this has tarnished PAS' name.

“He has divided the opposition pact, divided PAS and turned PAS into a political entity that the people cannot understand,” Sinar Harian quoted him as saying in Kota Baru, Kelantan.

Husam said this issue was raised when he was still with PAS, but it was not given attention.

“Suddenly, the Act 355 amendment was brought as a private member's bill, without the agreement of the PAS central committee at the time,” he added.

In a related development, PAS vice-president Iskandar Samad criticised Umno over the U-turn.

“Umno cannot be depended on to defend Islam. Does not even dare to table the Act 355 amendment.

“The Umno leadership is the weakest since BN was established. Umno members, what are you waiting for?” Iskandar asked in a Twitter posting.

Najib said the decision not to take over the bill was based on BN consensus -Mkini