Speaking at a press conference at the Projek Perumahan Rakyat at Pantai Dalam here today, Abdul Rahman said while people were calling for parliamentary reform, they were reluctant to talk about sensitive issues.

“On one hand you’re asking for parliamentary reform, on the other hand you say that this one (private member’s bill) is ok, this one is not ok. You can’t have your cake and eat it too,” he said.

He was referring to BN component parties opposing PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang’s private member’s bill to amend the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act to enhance hudud punishments.

Saying while he understood and appreciated the BN component parties’ concerns, he added that it was important that they understood that there was still no final say on the hudud amendments.

“Like the prime minister says, there is a lot of confusion regarding it (hudud bill) and Malaysia’s future is at stake.

“I personally feel that as a member of the Cabinet and Parliament, I am here temporarily and I cannot meddle with the Constitution as and when I wish.”

He added that while it was “unprecedented” that a private member’s bill had been tabled, it was important to look at it holistically.

“This is one way for us to bring forward one issue that is so sensitive that we will do this professionally and at the end of the day people will judge whether BN will follow through or not.”