Kelantan assembly unanimously approves shariah law amendments

 The enactment replaces 16 provisions struck down as unconstitutional by the Federal Court in 2024.

Six assemblymen debated the bill before it was passed with no objections. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Kelantan’s legislative assembly has unanimously approved amendments to its shariah criminal enactment, replacing 16 provisions struck down by the Federal Court in 2024.

The Syariah Criminal Offences (Kelantan) Bill 2026 was tabled by deputy menteri besar Fadzli Hassan and debated by six assemblymen before being passed, Bernama reported.

The bill comprises nine parts, 62 clauses and one schedule with several improvements made to provisions involving the five daily prayers, restorative punishment, whipping as a punishment, and compound mechanisms.

In winding up the debate on the bill, menteri besar Nassuruddin Daud said it essentially captured the spirit of the 2019 enactments.

In an 8-1 majority decision on Feb 9, 2024, the Federal Court struck down 16 provisions under the Kelantan enactment on grounds that they were unconstitutional.

The court ruled that the Kelantan assembly had no power to enact the provisions as they dealt with offences that fell under Parliament’s authority to enact federal criminal laws. - FMT