Pejuang lawyer reminds Muslims' faith not compromised

The faith of Muslims has not been compromised with the apex court ruling today that nullified 16 out of 18 Kelantan syariah criminal provisions, said Pejuang information chief Rafique Rashid Ali.

Rafique (above), who called for cool heads and objectivity to prevail, said Muslims in the country are also not prevented from practising their faith.

"As a Malaysian and mature Malay-Muslim, the best way is to comprehensively look at all of the grounds of judgment.

"To finally see that the most important issue is to amend the Federal Constitution and make it crystal clear on civil and syariah criminal offences, so both will have a place in Malaysia," said the lawyer on Facebook.

In her summary judgment, Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said the challenge on the constitutionality and legality of 18 Kelantan syariah criminal provisions had nothing to do with the position of Islam or the Syariah Court, and nor will they be affected by the ruling.

This comes after the apex court this morning allowed lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter Tengku Yasmin Natasha Tengku Abdul Rahman’s petition to nullify 16 of the 18 provisions.

‘Strengthen judicial systems’

Rafique, who echoed Tengku Maimun's stance that the judgment had nothing to do with Islam's position or the Syariah Court, called for both the civil and syariah judicial systems to be strengthened as Muslims are bound by both laws.

"Here, Pejuang humbly supports Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah's decree for all states to be members of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs," he said.

At the same time, Rafique said Pejuang called for greater involvement of all stakeholders in an engagement session intended to ensure that the council achieved its goal and deliberate on matters of interest to Muslims.

Further, he said all Muslim lawmakers in Parliament should set aside partisan differences and unite to amend the Federal Constitution, towards preventing a similar legal challenge from being mounted against syariah criminal provisions in other states.

Earlier today, Opposition Leader Hamzah Zainudin said there is a need for an amendment in the Constitution to empower syariah law, especially on the majority people’s right to profess and practise Islam. - Mkini