He said this was why the Islamist party was pushing for Section 355 of the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 to be amended.

Tuan Ibrahim revealed this at a press conference today in response to a question from the media if PAS was pushing for an amendment of Act 76(a).

Act 76(a) allows Parliament to extend the legislative power of the states to enact laws on matters in the federal list and, in this issue, empower the Kelantan state government to implement the shariah penal code.

Tuan Ibrahim said at present, shariah courts did not comply with shariah punishment requirements.

The PAS number two cited the example of the punishment for alcohol consumption for Muslims, which was six strokes of the rotan although the minimum sentence should be 40 to 80 strokes.

“So we have been lying to the people for over 40 years and we just want to correct this.”

He said the lowly status of the shariah courts, and its inadequate punishments, made the courts a laughing stock.

He said the amendments would only see an upgrade in the punishments.

Tuan Ibrahim said the opposition to the tabling of the Bill stemmed from a lack of understanding. He felt if non-Muslims understood the bill they would not oppose it.

He said the PAS supporters’ wing would help disseminate the correct information on the bill.

Tuan Ibrahim also stressed that PAS had never wavered from its hudud push and that PAS should not be blamed for the break-up of Pakatan Rakyat.

He said in the previous general election, the party won the support of the people despite its stand on the matter.

Tuan Ibrahim also said the PAS leadership would review a proposal to take back seats “loaned” to former Pakatan Rakyat allies PKR and DAP.

PAS Youth Chief Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz, when officiating the PAS Youth Muktamar, made this call as the party’s allies had dumped the Islamist party after using them to win in the elections.