A consensus by states and the Malay Rulers was needed to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act (Act 355) even if its through a private member's bill, said former law minister Zaid Ibrahim.

Hence, said Zaid, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom was wrong to suggest that the government can work around this by taking over PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's private member's bill to amend the Act.