In a press statement, Leong said he made the decision after witnessing the commitment by the leadership of MCA as well as that of other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties in opposing PAS’ Private Member’s Bill, that seeks to enhance the powers of the Shariah courts.

“Coupled with urgings from the party grassroots in the past week for me to re-join the line-up and support the MCA president and central committee in defending the Federal Constitution, I have decided to withdraw my decision to quit the party,” he said.

The Gurun assemblyman also said that when he first announced his decision to leave the party on May 27, MCA President Liow Tiong Lai said the party would remain firm against the Bill.

“The MCA president also courageously stated publicly that the prime minister had made a grave error (in supporting the Bill) and it is not simply a misunderstanding while the MCA and other BN components have shown great resolve in this matter,” he said.

Earlier, English daily the New Straits Times reported that Kedah Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah had brushed off rumours of appointing a new candidate to the post Leong left empty, saying the decision would be left entirely up to MCA’s top leadership instead.

The tabling of the controversial Bill also resulted in four ministers – Liow; MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong; MIC president S Subramaniam; and Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong issuing threats to resign as well like Leong, if the Bill was passed

PAS is currently pushing for hudud to be implemented in Kelantan. Its president, Abdul Hadi Awang, tabled the Shariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill 2016 in Parliament last Thursday that seeks to enhance the powers of the Shariah court.