In October, Abdul Hadi Awang, the Parti Islam se-Malaysia...

In October, Abdul Hadi Awang, the Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) Vice-President and an MP, reaffirmed his party's commitment to forming an Islamic state and gave notice that he would attempt again to table a bill that would apply the death penalty for apostates, following his failure to have it accepted previously. Nik Aziz Nik Mat, the Chief Minister of PAS-controlled Kelantan state, said the party would introduce legislation in the federal Parliament to enforce tough Islamic laws when it came to power. Hadi Awang said he had previously moved a motion in the Dewan Rakyat on behalf of PAS for the amendment of the Constitution to provide for the death penalty for apostates. In trying to reassure non-Muslims, Hadi Awang said there is nothing for non-Muslims to worry about because this was a problem involving only Muslims. The bill proposed at the Parliament would provide for a compulsory rehabilitation process within a time limit for Muslims who choose to leave the religion. There would be no mandatory death sentence. The constitutional provision of freedom of religion would be upheld. No action would be taken against those individuals who still choose to leave the religion peacefully after the rehabilitation process.