KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 9 -- PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang has called for the abolition of laws he described as colonial legacies, alleging that these were obstacles to the unfettered implementation of Syariah law in Malaysia.

In the statement, titled "Merdeka: Hapus Undang-Undang Penjajah Yang Sekat Pelaksanaan Islam" ("Independence: Abolish Colonial Laws That Obstruct the Implementation of Islam"), the Marang MP argued that true independence cannot be realised while laws inherited from British rule continue to limit Islam's position above man-made legislation.

"Colonial-legacy laws must be abolished to ensure the true meaning of independence can be fully realised," Hadi said in the statement.

"In particular, laws that prevent Is...