KUALA LUMPUR: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s Bill to enhance the powers of the Shariah courts, which was earlier moved up a few notches up the agenda in the Dewan Rakyat, has now been deferred to the next parliamentary sitting.

The motion was read by Deputy Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Razali Ibrahim, after the House deferred the reading of another four bills slotted for debate today.

Earlier, International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed in deferring the four bills, said it was according to Standing Order 62, which allowed for the bills to be brought forward to the next Dewan Rakyat sitting, scheduled to be held in October.

The bills are the Employment Insurance System (EIS) Bill, Malaysian Aviation Commission (Amendment) Bill 2017, Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (Amendment) Bill 2017 and Stamp (Amendment) Bill 2017.

Yesterday, the Dewan Rakyat session stretched until 4.06 am today after heated exchanges on three controversial bills.

The three bills which were eventually passed were the Malaysian Border Security Agency Bill 2017, Prevention of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2017 and Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Amendment Bill 2016.