Kelantan assembly passes motion for re-enactment of syariah provisions

 

The Kelantan legislative assembly has passed a motion to re-enact the 16 provisions in the state’s Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019, which were nullified by the Federal Court on Feb 9.

The court struck out the provisions on the grounds that Kelantan’s legislature exceeded its state-making power contained in the State List (List II) of the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.

Speaker Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said the motion read: “The state legislature records its regret and sadness over the nullification of the 16 provisions under the Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019 and urges the provisions to be re-enacted.”

The former Kelantan deputy menteri besar said after scrutinising the motion, he found that it fulfilled the three criteria to be accepted for debate - “specific and important issue, of public interest, and must be expedited.”

All state assemblypersons, including two opposition lawmakers from Umno and Pakatan Harapan, agreed to the private motion proposed by PAS’ Melor assemblyperson Wan Rohimi Wan Daud.

Earlier, Wan Rohimi, who is a lawyer by profession, presented the motion to the state legislative assembly, where it was debated by three lawmakers.

Meanwhile, state executive council member Mohd Asri Mat Daud, who is in charge of Islamic affairs, was reported as saying by Sinar Harian that he would present the matter concerning the 16 nullified provisions in a special committee.

According to him, the committee would discuss all the provisions before they are presented to be re-enacted.

“We will bring the matter to the state legislative assembly. We are confident it can be escalated to Tuanku Sultan (Kelantan ruler Sultan Muhammad V) after everything is settled,” he was quoted as saying.

While Mohd Asri could not provide a timeline for the process, he hinted it could be after the Hari Raya Aidilftri celebrations in April. - Mkini