KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 — The National Socialist Youth wing (DAPSY) of DAP today urged Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) not to support a Bill to enhance Shariah court powers, claiming that it was trap crafted by Umno and PAS.

The wing's chief Wong Kah Woh, in a statement, said PPBM must make its stand clear, noting that the Pakatan Harapan-PPBM pact was going against a "well coordinated" Barisan Nasional-PAS alliance in the next general election.

"There is no way of supporting RUU355 and letting themselves fall into the Umno-PAS' trap if PPBM is committed and clear in its fight against Umno," he said using the Malay abbreviation for the Bill to amend Act 355, or Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.

He said BN was only showing support for the Bill because it needed PAS' help the coalition win in the 14th elections.

"In fact, 60 out of 133 seats won by Barisan Nasional were won with less than 55 per cent of votes in PRU13, and a slight swing of votes will cost BN-Umno power in the next election," he said, referring to the nation's 13th elections.

In a separate statement, MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Deputy Chairman Datuk Ng Chok Sin warned that DAP must sever ties with PPBM if the latter party voted "yes" if and when the Bill is debated, to show that DAP is not indirectly supporting PAS.

Ng said it was also unfortunate for PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to agree in the name of generating supports from the Malay community.

"It is unfortunate and plain obvious that Tan Sri Muhyiddin has not changed from his racial views of the past, and now, for the sake of recovering lost Malay ground, is willing to support PAS’ Private Bill proposal, much to the detriment of fellow Muslims, especially Muslim women, and likewise non-Muslims whose testimony is placed at a severe disadvantage at the Shariah courts," he said.

He said the enhancement of the Islamic law will not be limited to Kelantan but could also spread to other states.

Ng cited a Malay Mail Online article as a point in case where a Terengganu assemblyman filed a motion to ascertain the state's reluctance to expedite the implementation of a hudud enactment.

Batu Burok state Assemblyman Syed Azman has filed a motion with the Terengganu state assembly as to question the BN-government’s reluctance to implement Terengganu’s Syariah Criminal Offences (Hudud and Qisas) Enactment despite it received the royal assent in 15 years ago.

PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man was reported saying that Muhyiddin was in support of the proposed amendments to Act 355.

It was subsequently reported that PPBM information chief Datuk Kamaruddin Mohd Noor that the party will make its official announcement soon on whether it supported the Bill.

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