Pandikar's decision to postpone debate is his own: Tengku Adnan

PUTRAJAYA: The decision by Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to postpone the debate on the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, or Act 355, was his own, said Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
He denied that Barisan Nasional (BN) had played a role in the decision to postpone the debate, adding that the party had no power to make the decision.
He said the decision came under the purview of the Dewan Rakyat speaker and not BN.
"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has no jurisdiction on this. So why do you need to accuse us? We have to follow and respect his (Pandikar's) decision," he said.
Tengku Adnan said the blame game is one of the games Opposition parties play and they are constantly hounding BN.
PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who is also Marang MP, had tabled the bill amidst strong objections but Pandikar had postponed the debate on the motion to the next session on July 24.
Pandikar made the decision soon after PAS secretary general and Kota Baru MP Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan completed his address in supporting the motion brought by Abdul Hadi.
"It is easy to blame BN," Tengku Adnan told reporters after the launching and voting session of the Rumawip Residensi Rimbunan at Menara Seri Wilayah.
He said BN's decision not to table the bill was based on consensus.
"We are a united party and committed to make Malaysia a developed country and improve the economy, education and other systems," said the Federal Territories Minister.
Tengku Adnan said early this year, a total of 55,609 affordable units had been built and his ministry had reached 70% of its target of developing 80,000 units of Federal Territories Affordable Housing (Rumawip) by 2020.