KOTA BHARU, March 6 — The Kelantan State Legislative Assembly which convened today passed a motion to re-enact all 16 provisions of Syariah offences that were declared null and void by the Federal Court on February 9.
The motion, presented by Melor state assemblyman Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, received unanimous support, including from two Opposition state assemblymen.
Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Abdullah said the motion fulfilled all three conditions: it was important, of public interest, and had to be expedited.
Rohimi said there is room for improvement and to review the revoked provisions to allow them to be re-enacted, and it is unreasonable for the assembly to give up on defending its jurisdictio as a legislative authority in Islamic matters.
“The motion is also in line with Sultan of Kelantan Sultan Muhamad V’s decree to ensure that state legislation is defended and empowered,” he said during the assembly sitting in Kota Darulnaim today.
The nine-judge panel chaired by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat had earlier revoked all the 16 provisions after allowing a petition submitted by lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Tengku Abdul Rahman.
— Bernama
