KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 — Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) clarified today that it will officially announce its stand on a Bill to elevate the Shariah courts only after it was tabled in Parliament.

Party information chief Datuk Kamaruddin Mohd Noor said its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is entitled to make statements on behalf of the party, even when they are his personal opinions.

"He is the party's president and he has the power to issue a statement on behalf of the party,” he was quoted saying in Sinar Harian, referring to Muhyiddin.

PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man was reported yesterday saying that Muhyiddin, who is Pagoh MP, has given his support to the proposals made under the Bill.

Kamaruddin said the party does not dispute Muhyiddin’s remark, but admitted PPBM has concluded its own discussion on the matter.

"In this matter, what is needed are votes and we only have one representative in the Parliament," he said.

Both PPBM and PAS are currently deliberating a proposal for a political cooperation to face the 14th general elections.

Islamist party PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang is seeking to raise the Shariah courts’ maximum sentencing limits to 30 years’ jail, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the cane. The current limits are three years’ jail, RM5,000 fine and six strokes.