Shariah bill: Strategic move by Umno, says Syed Saddiq

The PPBM Youth chief says giving leeway to PAS to table Hadi's bill serves to ease the tension between the party and PAS.

PETALING JAYA: The decision to once again postpone the PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s motion to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355)may be a strategic move on Umno’s part to ease the tension between the party and PAS.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said BN had allowed the Islamist party the opportunity to table the motion in the Dewan Rakyat, albeit without debate.

“The next Dewan Rakyat sitting may be held only after the general election.

“But Umno has already succeeded in splitting the opposition.

“In a three-way fight, there is a great likelihood that PAS or Pakatan Harapan will lose a lot of seats.

“As for PAS, it might have lost the political capital to raise Act 355 post-election.

“We have seen this happen many times, from the days Umno betrayed PAS to wrest Kelantan … all of Umno’s failed election promises.”

Syed Saddiq said putting off the debate on Hadi’s motion was a demonstration of the political games played by PAS and Umno.

The people were a witness to the political power play.

“In general, many of them are sick of the country’s politics,” he said in a statement today. -FMT