Newly minted Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri has raised issues pertaining to Terengganu’s amended Syariah Criminal Offences (Punishments) Enactment 2022 in a special cabinet meeting yesterday.
The amended enactment, among others, criminalises out-of-wedlock pregnancies and childbirths for Muslim women.
Speaking to Malaysiakini, Nancy (above) said the matter was brought up during the meeting to seek guidance from federal ministers as it involves Muslim teenagers.
“Since religious matters are under the jurisdiction of the state government, the minister in charge of religious affairs (Mohd Na’im Mokhtar) has been asked to have a royal audience with Terengganu ruler (Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin).
“I have to find out further before I can comment on this, not today,” she added.
It is understood that the Santubong MP will bring up the matter again in tomorrow’s cabinet meeting and her ministry will issue a statement on Thursday at the latest.
Malaysiakini has contacted Na’im for a response.
Last Thursday, the Terengganu state legislative assembly passed an amendment to the Syariah Criminal Offences (Punishments) Enactment 2022 to strengthen the implementation of syariah law in the state, which includes the addition of four new sections, among others.
The four new sections include offences for Section 3A (witchcraft and black magic), 29A (pregnancy or giving birth out of wedlock), 33A (women acting as men) and 36A (in preparation of sodomy).
Section 29A states that Muslim women found guilty of out-of-wedlock pregnancy and childbirth will be liable for a fine not exceeding RM3,000, imprisonment up to two years, or both.
The same section states that men who are found guilty of causing a pregnancy out of wedlock can be sentenced to the same punishment.
The enforcement of the enactment will begin after getting the assent of the Terengganu ruler.
Backlash
The passing of the amendment drew backlash with various quarters slamming the state's move to punish women who have unplanned pregnancies.
Health think tank Galen Centre criticised the amendment, saying it might undermine the health system as it weakens the protections and rights of women and girls to healthcare.
Its health and social policy chief executive officer Azrul Mohd Khalib, in a statement, raised concern that the enactment may force women and girls to seek out unsafe abortions due to a hostile climate.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said global data and research have shown that punitive measures and restrictive laws are ineffective in reducing such pregnancies.
In a statement, MMA president Muruga Raj Rajathurai said such punitive actions would only lead to negative consequences, including unsafe pregnancies and childbirths, which could result in permanent harm to a person’s health. - Mkini
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