Subra: PAS allowed to present case but no voting

IT is Barisan Nasional’s decision to allow PAS to table Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s Bill but not allow it to be debated.

MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, who is Health Minister, said the decision was based on an agreement in the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council last week.

He said if Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia allowed the debate, MIC lawmakers would be ready to present their viewpoints.

“The decision was to allow PAS to present its case and there was an agreement that there won’t be voting today. As far as that is concerned, we followed the decision of the Barisan Council,” he said at the Parliament building yesterday.

Dr Subramaniam said MIC leaders had expressed their concerns over the Bill.

“There was some consolation that non-Muslims will never be affected by it but despite those assurances, we have cases like Indira Gandhi,” Dr Subramaniam said.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup said there was a decision to table the Bill but no debate.

Asked whether he would vote for or against the Bill, he said: “We wait until we cross the bridge.”