KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said some parts of the laws will probably have to be amended if contradictions involving jurisdiction and power between the civil and the Syariah courts cannot be resolved.

"If we cannot settle this and we need to amend the laws, then we have to amend. But we must use the constitution and other important policies as our guideline," Abdullah said when opening Upko's convention at Magellan Sutera Harbour Resort, Saturday.

Upko President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the contradiction in the powers of the civil and the Syariah courts had caused confusion in the administration of the nation's judiciary.

"What is being raised by the Upko Convention is a serious matter. But I believe that with the spirit of tolerance, we can resolve the matter," he said, adding that such issues could not be settled in a hurried manner but discussed thoroughly and carefully.

At the same time, views from everyone must be taken into consideration before making any decision. While the decision may not be satisfactory to everyone, he said ultimately it must be accepted since it is made through collective consensus but he assured no one would be barred from airing their views.

"I am your Prime Minister and I have to be fair to all of you. God said to be fair (to everyone) and that's what I will do," he said.

The Upko Convention this time saw several hot issues debated, including the fear over the unhealthy trend in relations between the various faiths and races.

Dompok said the contradiction in the powers of the civil and Syariah courts were seen through cases involving M Moorthy, Shamala, Shubasini and Revathi, among others.

He said it inadvertently posed a problem in the relationship between the various religions and races including matters relating to child custody and division of wealth between the husband and wife.

Abdullah said difficulties would arise when two different beliefs clashed and when this happened they must apply the rules, ethics and religions of the persons.

Abdullah said there were certain legal provisions which sometimes appeared to be "excessive". However, if there was a need, such provisions could be amended for the benefit of all parties, he said.

Under certain circumstances, the PM said he had to have a stand to clear the confusion over issues affecting public interest.

"For example, the question whether our country is a secular country or otherwise (theocratic or Islamic as suggested by some). I have to make a stand. I have to have mercy, (to be) just and fair to the people," he said.

On Aug 5, Abdullah had said that Malaysia was neither a secular country nor a theocracy. On the other hand, Malaysia practised parliamentary democracy, adding that the Government adopted elements that reflected the multi-racial and multi-religious composition of the population Also present at the convention was Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

On other developments, he said the unity among the component parties in the Barisan Nasional (BN) was very unique that exists only in Malaysia.

The union, he said, did not represent only a singular race but all other races represented by different religions.

"All this were possible because of unity and understanding (among the component parties)," he said.

ABDULLAH called on the BN component parties to continue to uphold the spirit of consensus as a culture to preserve party unity.

"We reach a consensus every time we decide on an election manifesto. We reach a consensus every time we decide on seat allocation and we also reach a consensus when we have to decide on the Cabinet line-up and the deputy ministers and so on.

"Sometimes we decide based on the circumstances and not based on equality, but equity," he said.

On the concept of 'Islam Hadhari' or Civilisational Islam, the Prime Minister said the principles of 'hadhari' was not confrontational, but involved all aspects of life such as the environment, family, and laws which could be applied in the lives of non-Muslims.

"I'm a Muslim and I follow what is being taught in Islam and others can follow what they believe in," he said.