PAS today voiced its gratitude towards Federal Territories mufti Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri for supporting the party's proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, also known as Act 355.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said he believed all muftis actually supported the proposed amendments, which seek to increase the scope of punishment that syariah courts can mete out.

“PAS expresses its appreciation especially to the Federal Territories mufti who had given his support for Act 355,” said Tuan Ibrahim in a statement today.

Zulkifli yesterday urged all Muslim lawmakers regardless of their political party to support the amendments to Act 355.

Supporting the amendments is one of the ways to uphold Islam, Zulkifli wrote in his lengthy Bayan Linnas column, which was posted on the Federal Territories mufti's official website.

Tuan Ibrahim today expressed hope that other muftis would make a similar call.

“This issue should not be politicised as it is not a political issue, rather, it is a responsibility for all Muslims.

“This issue should not be turned into a polemic by any quarters so as to avoid affecting the good ties among the country’s different religions,” he said.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had tabled a private member’s bill to amend the Act, and it is due to be debated in the next Parliament sitting next month.

While proponents argue that the amendments are only to strengthen syariah courts, critics fear that its sole purpose is to allow the implementation of hudud.

Act 355 now restricts syariah courts to dole out punishments of up to three years in jail, six strokes of the rotan and maximum fine of RM5,000.

If passed, Hadi's bill would allow the syariah courts to mete out other punishments including those defined in the Islamic penal code.