International Trade and Industry Minister II Ong Ka Chuan revealed today that Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi raised PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill in the cabinet meeting before it was tabled, but was short on details.

Ong said in the cabinet meeting on May 20, which was chaired by Zahid, the deputy prime minister only posed a hypothetical question to ministers on what they thought if "someone" were to introduce a bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, also known as Act 355.

Therefore, Ong said, it came as a surprise when the bill turned out to be more than just a hypothetical question when it went to the floor on May 26, with the government's support.