Umno MPs appear not to be on the same page on whether the party will support changes in federal law to allow the Kelantan Syariah Code Enactment II 1993 to come into force.

Kelantan PAS intends to enact the changes through a Private Member's Bill since hudud punishments like amputation and stoning go beyond the powers given to the Syariah Court under the federal constitution.

Kemaman MP Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Umno would support it because it is part of Islam, but Pulai MP Nur Jazlan Mohamed argued that hudud is not a priority.

"Umno cannot be seen as opposing anything that is demanded by Islam and we have always had this stand," said Shabery (left), who is also multimedia and communications minister.

"If this law is found to adhere to Islamic tenets, then Umno will support it," he added.

However, Nur Jazlan said hudud is not a priority.

"I always have maintained my position that hudud should not be implemented now.

"They should be focusing on developing Islam and not punishing Muslims," he told reporters in Parliament today.

The Public Accounts Committee chairperson said there are other important issues the Kelantan government should focus on, like women's rights and infrastructure development.

"In Kelantan, women can't even go to movies with their partners of the opposite sex as they would have to be segregated in cinemas.

"They can't even sit together and it is not fair to the women. We have to do other things required by Islam, like developing the country and giving women rights," he added.

Hudud unconstitutional

Yesterday, BN Backbenchers Council chairperson Shahrir Samad said voting on the Private Member's Bill may go "according to  conscience" and that no directive would be given to BN MPs.

Gerakan and MCA, which have two and seven MPs respectively, have been vocal against the implementation of the syariah penal code.

However, Nur Jazlan (right) said the Private Member's Bill may not even make it to the Dewan Rakyat.

"Any Bill tabled in parliament which is against the constitution will be rejected by the speaker automatically as members are not allowed to pass any law contravening the constitution," he added.

Nur Jazlan also warned that sensitive issues like hudud could divide Malaysia, which he believes should remain moderate.

"Sensitive issues like this should not determine our future.

"This would ruin our hopes of being a country which could interact with the world," he said.