KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 — PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang today declined questions on his private member’s Bill to upgrade the Shariah courts’ powers, after Barisan Nasional components revealed plans to frustrate the motion.

He also declined to say whether he expected his bid to receive support from rival BN lawmakers, particularly from Umno that has been courting his party.

When pressed by reporters, he simply said: "Insha’allah [God willing]”.

Hadi’s motion is listed as the fourth item in the Order Paper for the parliamentary meeting beginning today.

MCA and MIC previously revealed that BN has come to an agreement on how to handle Hadi’s Bill,  including prioritising government matters above his motion in order to prevent it from being debated.

The Bill seeks to amend the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, also known as Act 355, to empower Islamic courts to enforce any punishment ― except for the death penalty ― provided in Shariah laws for Islamic offences listed under state jurisdiction in the Federal Constitution.

Shariah court punishments are currently limited to jail terms not exceeding three years, whipping of not more than six strokes, or fines of not more than RM5,000.

Hadi insisted in May that his private member’s Bill aims to expand the range of punishments the Shariah courts can impose, and was not meant to introduce hudud law in Kelantan.