KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 — The government will be responsible for bringing forward PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s Shariah Bill after parliamentary business is done, the minister in charge of Islamic affairs said today.

Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom also said Putrajaya welcomed any suggestion to improve the Shariah courts, including Hadi’s private member’s Bill that seeks to raise the limits of punishments Shariah courts can impose by amending the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355).

"Generally, of course the government will carefully scrutinise the suggested amendments by taking into account the views of all interested parties, including non-Muslims even though Act 355 doesn’t involve them, as per the Federal Constitution,” Jamil Khir said in a statement.

Hadi today read his motion for the amended version of his private member’s Bill, but again deferred it to the next time Parliament convenes after the current meeting ended today.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the fundamental changes made to the Bill meant it cannot be considered to have undergone the first reading in Parliament. Previously, it was reported that today’s tabling of Hadi’s motion on his Bill would be its second reading, following its tabling in the previous parliamentary meeting.

The amended version of Hadi’s Bill seeks to increase the Shariah punishment ceiling to 30 years’ prison, RM100,000 fine and 100 lashes of the cane.