A massive rally to support RUU 355, which is a proposed amendment that will increase the limits of Syariah punishments, was held last Saturday at Padang Merbok.

According to police estimates, close to 20,000 people attended the event organized by PAS. A counter rally protesting the amendment was held in Petaling Jaya on the same day, but only around 200 people showed up at that event.

Some analysts say that the large turnout at the rally demonstrates widespread support for the proposed amendments, but others are not convinced.

To understand the impact and significance of the rallies, BFM speaks to Rashaad Ali, a research analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

This is a report by Jason Lim and Wan Irdina.