A massive gathering will be held at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 18 to provide information to the public, especially Muslims, concerning amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, otherwise known as Act 355.

PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the platform would be used to clarify the appropriateness of the Private Member's Bill tabled by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang for the amendment, and why it should be supported by all Muslims, especially members of Parliament.

"At the event themed 'Syariah Diperkasa, Rakyat Sejahtera' (Syariah is Strenghtened, the People will Prosper) we will involve all those who 'love' the (amendment to) Act 355, regardless of their political party, religious and racial backgrounds," he told a press conference here today.

Tuan Ibrahim, who is also the organising chairman of the assembly, said about 300,000 people were expected to attend the event to be held from 3 pm to 11 pm.

The rally is being jointly organised by the Secretariat of the Ummah, the Muslim Lawyers Association of Malaysia, the Council of Ulama and Umara and the Association of Muslim Professionals Malaysia.

On 24 Nov last year, Abdul Hadi had tabled a Private Member's Bill called the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill 2016 in the Dewan Rakyat.

The PAS president, however, requested for it to be debated at the next Parliamentary sitting, saying the proposed amendments required a clear understanding and there was still confusion and debate about it among various parties.

The Dewan Rakyat sitting will begin on March 7, after the Opening Ceremony of the Fifth Session of the 13th Parliament, on March 6.

Tuan Ibrahim said the tabling of the amendment bill was beginning to get positive feedback from all parties, including communities in Sarawak.

Meanwhile, the '355 Gathering' director Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi, said PAS as the main organiser of the event invited all political parties to join the rally, including DAP and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).

Nasrudin Hassan, who is also PAS information chief, said the parties concerned would receive invitations to attend the rally in the near future. -- Bernama