(April 10): PAS has expressed its support for Putrajaya's efforts to implement the Special Measures Against Terrorism in Foreign Countries Bill 2015, which was passed in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday, reported Bernama.

Party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was quoted as saying that although PAS had differing opinion on several technical matters from the government, he did not deny that there was a need for such a law to defend the country's integrity and sovereignty.

"We are united in fighting terrorism, we don't want terrorism to be imported into this country. But the fundamentals are the same and we agree on this. We feel what is being raised in other countries are not suitable to Islamic teachings.

"We don't deny the need for the law and there was a lengthy debate (on it) in Parliament. This is a joint responsibility that we must be aware of. That's why we delayed our motion until the adjournment of Parliament," he said in Marang today.

With regard to the tabling of the private member's bill on the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) at the next parliamentary sitting on May 18, Hadi told Bernama he was satisfied because the matter had been agreed upon unanimously after a discussion was held between the federal and Kelantan governments on this matter.

PAS had agreed not to force the motion to be tabled earlier but was instead prepared to follow the schedule fixed as it believed that the national agenda, especially involving security issues and terrorism, should be given priority now, he said.

"I was also told that a minister had made a statement in parliament that the matter would be extended to the next sitting. That is why we don't have to be hasty."

Bernama reported that Hadi was satisfied with the support given by Muslim MPs including those from Umno on this matter and considered the reception on laws pertaining to Islam to be improving compared to the past.

Meanwhile, Hadi reminded its Pakatan Rakyat partner, DAP, against making statements that would create the misconception that PAS was anti-Islamic and create enmity between PAS and the Muslims.

On the contrary, there were still many non-Muslims who gave positive feedback on the private member's bill on the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) including on hudud, he was quoted as saying. – The Malaysian Insider