PAS leaders have mixed reactions to BN supreme council's decision that the government will not take over and table the private member's bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdictions) Act or Act 355.

Party secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said he does not see this as an act of betrayal by Umno, while vice-president Iskandar Abdul Samad slammed the country's biggest ruling party for "flip-flopping".

Takiyuddin explained that he felt that Umno lawmakers will be with PAS on Act 355.

"We believe that Muslim MPs, especially from Umno, will be with us," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Takiyuddin also denied that PAS has been "fooled and played around" by Umno, which extended an olive branch to PAS on political cooperation. 

"(This is because) we realised from the beginning that we are the one who are bringing up this private member's bill. So, it is not an issue whether Umno supports us," he explained.

Takiyuddin however noted that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak backed down due to the pressure from BN component parties.

"But, as a Muslim, I think he is duty bound to make sure this (Act 355) got through," he said, adding that PAS will continue to persuade the Muslim and non-Muslim lawmakers to support PAS on the amendment.

After chairing the BN supreme council meeting yesterday, Najib announced that the government will not table the bill to amend Act 355.

The bill seeks to increase the penalties that the syariah courts can mete out, as well as expand its criminal jurisdictions over Muslims in criminal offences.

Some say this will allow states like Kelantan with existing hudud or Islamic penal code legislation to enforce harsher punishments and for more offences, as previously they were bound by restrictions in Act 355.

'All party members behind Hadi'

Commenting further, Takiyuddin said PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang will seek an appointment with Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia for advice on how the latter would handle the matter.

He said the twist of event will not impact Hadi's leadership as "all party members are behind Hadi".

Takiyuddin also denied that PAS has been split into two factions - one supporting Hadi and the other deputy president, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

"He (Tuan Ibrahim) is part of us. There's one faction only and that's PAS faction," he said.

Takiyuddin, who is also Kota Baru MP, also reminded non-Muslims that their objection against Act 355 may backfire.

"For the sake of peaceful and harmony life in Malaysia, the non-Muslims have to consider this. We are worried that the Muslims will turn up and go against the interest of non-Muslims. Not physically, (but) the interest of non-Muslims will be strongly objected," he said.

"Be fair. We don't encroach into your interest, why should other encroach and trespass into ours," he added.

Meanwhile, Iskandar, who is the Selangor state executive council, criticised Umno for flip-flopping on Act 355.

"Umno's flip-flop attitude can obviously be seen here," he told Malaysiakini via text message.

Iskandar claimed that Umno is now at its weakest state since the formation of the BN coalition and the event portrayed that the party's leadership has been challenged.

PAS is duty bound to proceed with its private member's bill as an Islamic party, he added.