The Federal Court's decision to strike down 16 provisions in the Kelantan syariah criminal code on Friday should not be politicised, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the decision was related to the legislative provisions passed by the Kelantan state legislative assembly and was not about the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court.
At the same time, he was agreeable to a discussion between Muslim MPs to empower syariah 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," Zahid said after visiting his adopted family in his constituency for Chinese New Year yesterday.
The Bagan Datuk MP was responding to Kelantan PAS deputy commissioner Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah’s invitation to all parties, especially Muslim MPs, to hold discussions on how syariah laws can be strengthened.
On Friday, the Federal Court in an 8-1 majority decision ruled that 16 provisions of offences under the Kelantan Syariah 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 said offences because there were federal laws covering the same offences.
The Federal Court made the ruling after allowing a petition filed by lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Tengku Abdul Rahman to challenge the constitutionality and legality of 18 provisions of offences under 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.
- Bernama
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