The Kelana Jaya MP was referring to a WhatsApp message he had received this morning on the “reassuring” outcome of the briefing Zahid had conducted yesterday with Muslim MPs from both sides of the political divide.

The briefing was on Hadi’s Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) 2016 Bill, which is better known as RUU 355. Zahid had called for it to address the interpretations when the bill was first brought to Parliament.

“It gives a rather reassuring and flattering view of what Umno and BN are trying to do to delay and derail Hadi Awang’s bill,” Wong Chen said in a post on his Facebook page today.

He noted, however, that it did not negate how Umno could still stop the bill from passing “if it wants to”.

Wong Chen praised Zahid for his efforts to engage Muslim opposition lawmakers on the matter, but noted that the outcome was still volatile and uncertain.

“While Zahid may want to defuse the situation, it still does not mean that Najib and Hadi are of the same view. What if Hadi does not play ball with the wishes of Zahid? What if Najib overrules Zahid?” Wong Chen asked.

According to Wong Chen, the meeting saw most of its ideas and results coming from the PKR and Amanah MPs, with PKR’s Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh proposing the select committee formed to also include non-Muslim MPs in order to explain to them the separation of powers between the civil and shariah courts.

The situation, he said, would now especially depend on the Sabah and Sarawak MPs from the ruling coalition, who according to him have demanded that Zahid brief them personally in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.

“The situation is much more fluid than we imagine. The Sabah and Sarawak BN MPs are particularly adamant in opposing the bill.

“Ultimately, the fate of the nation hinges on these Borneo leaders,” Wong Chen said.