PAS has expressed support for the government's strong stand on the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) (Amendment) 2005, which certain quarters claim discriminates against women.

Abdul Hadi Awang, the president of the Islam-based opposition party, said the law had been misinterpreted by some quarters.

This, he added, had created confusion and misunderstanding over the country's Syariah law.

"Family, Women and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail made a wise move in saying that the law could not be passed arbitrarily without taking into consideration the views of the ulama (Islamic scholars)," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Abdul Hadi said a study on the law should also take into account the role of other quarters, including the media, in helping to strengthen the family institution.

This was to ensure that any weakness in a Muslim family would not be linked to the syariah law which was already perfect to be made as guidelines, he added.

Shahrizat, during a press conference last Thursday said that the law was in accordance with syariah principles and did not discriminate or was cruel to women.

In denial

The following day, she came under fire from women's groups, who accused the minister of being in denial.

The Joint Action Group on Gender Equality (JAG) said Sharizat (left) appeared to be 'turning back' from her previously uncompromising stand in protecting the rights of women and children on this issue.

It urged the minister to address women's grievances with the Act instead of glossing over them as being 'grey areas' and looking for those who had 'poisoned' women's understanding of the Act.

"The minister's allegations that 'certain NGOs have poisoned the minds of women is to underestimate the intelligence of the women senators who scrutinised the bill and all women who can read for themselves what the bill stated and what it meant to their interests and sense of fair play," it had said.

JAG is a coalition of seven women's groups.