Malaysia has just fast-tracked the tabling of the opposition Islamist party's private members bill to strengthen the powers and the jurisdiction of the Islamic courts, which many fear may lead to the imposition of hudud laws in the country. The move by the main ruling coalition party led by Prime Minister Najib Razak has caused an uproar among non-Muslim citizens.

Malaysia is able to impose a three-year travel ban on its citizens who discredit or ridicule the government, the Star newspaper reported on Wednesday, as criticism against the scandal-tainted Prime Minister Najib Razak grows.

Malaysia's immigration department enforced this ruling several months ago in a move to safeguard the country's image, the newspaper said, quoting an unnamed source.

The immigration director general Sakib Kusmi confirmed to the paper the existence of such a provision. Reuters could not independently verify the report that the penalty had been used.

Barisan Nasional component party leaders today pledged their full support to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"We will stand all the way behind him to lead Barisan Nasional (BN) to ensure transformation of the country to continue,” MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai told reporters after a meeting in Parliament between the component party leaders and the BN chairman.

Speaking on behalf of all the BN component party leaders, Liow added: “We are confident that national transformation programme can achieve its vision by 2020."

PETALING JAYA: PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (pic) has warned outsiders not to cause trouble during the party’s elections.

She said there were cases of indiscipline in many of the party’s polling centres nationwide that actually been conducted democratically but was hijacked by non-members.

“Early findings from the PKR Election Committee show that the chaos during the voting process was caused by non-party members who were instigated by gangsters to do so.

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Mah Siew Keong's victory in the recent Teluk Intan by-election marks a turning point for Gerakan and an opportunity for the party to prove themselves to the people, said analysts.

Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said choosing the Gerakan president in the by-election was the best decision voters there had made.

"Mah has much more experience, stature and local knowledge - that is the factor which aided him to win back the votes Barisan previously lost," he said when contacted by The Star.

PETALING JAYA: Badrul Hisham Shahrin, better known as Chegubard, has been suspended from PKR with immediate effect following his recent media outbursts criticising the party’s election process.

PKR disciplinary board chairman Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong said Badrul had also been issued a show-cause letter as to why he should not be sacked from the party.

“He has made a press statement claiming the election process is dirty and not transparent.

TELUK INTAN, May 27 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) must intensify its campaign in an effort to recapture the Teluk Intan parliamentary seat from the opposition in the by-election on Saturday.

Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir said the BN machinery must work hard to win the hearts of the voters before Friday to ensure the party is victorious.

"We have to approach the people directly and not in a major gathering or feast which we find to be ineffective," he told reporters after a casual meeting with residents in Jalan Padang Tembak here, Tuesday.

TELUK INTAN: Pakatan Rakyat should stop blaming Barisan Nasional for everything negative that has happened during its campaign for the Teluk Intan parliamentary seat by-election.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Sunday that Pakatan needed proof before making allegations against Barisan.

“Do they have proof? Can they establish any link that it has anything to do with us,” he said during the ground breaking ceremony of the RM5bil West Coast Expessway project here.