Since Parti Amanah Negara cannot take any stand on the syariah amendment, the opposition camp is trying to avoid talking about the issue in the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-election campaigns.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said this was because Amanah could not afford to declare that they opposed the Private Member’s Syariah Amendment Bill, and neither could they declare they supported it.
“So, Amanah is caught in a situation that does not allow them any leeway. Amanah needs the Chinese votes plus they hope to take some of the Malay votes, as well.
“Amanah cannot take any stand on the syariah amendment and, as they said a few days ago, they do not support or oppose the syariah amendment but just do not wish to take any stand at the moment,” he said in his blog posting at sskeruak.blogspot.my tonight.
Salleh pointed out that Amanah also threatened to sue anyone who alleged that they opposed the syariah amendment.
The Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections on June 18 were called, following the deaths of their respective incumbents, Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad and Tan Sri Noriah Kasnon in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak on May 5.