BAGAN DATUK – The Federal Court’s decision on Friday to strike down 16 provisions of the Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code Enactment (1) 2019 should not be politicised, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid explained that the decision is related to legislative provisions passed by the Kelantan Legislative Assembly rather than the shariah court’s jurisdiction.
At the same time, he was agreeable to a discussion between Muslim MPs to empower shariah laws on the condition that the parties involved do not politicise the matter.
“Discussions can be held, but we must look into the issue of determining ideas and not make politics the main agenda or only call for Muslims to discuss this matter when it is already too late,” he said after visiting his adopted family in conjunction with Chinese New Year here today.
Zahid, who is also Bagan Datuk MP, was responding to Kelantan PAS deputy commissioner II Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah’s invitation to all parties, especially Muslim MPs, to hold discussions on how shariah laws can be strengthened.
On Friday, the Federal Court, in an 8-1 majority decision, ruled that 16 provisions of offences under the Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code Enactment (1) 2019 were null and void, on the grounds that the state legislature did not have the power to enact laws on the said offences because there were federal laws covering the same offences.
The Federal Court made the ruling after allowing a petition, filed by Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter, Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Abdul Rahman, to challenge the constitutionality and legality of 18 provisions of the enactment.
Asked if the cabinet would hold a meeting following the Federal Court’s decision, Zahid said there were no plans so far to raise the matter in the cabinet. – February 11, 2024