Kelantan shariah case doesn’t affect other states’ laws, says deputy minister

Kelantan shariah case doesn’t affect other states’ laws, says deputy minister

Zulkifli Hasan says the laws of the remaining states remain valid as they have not been challenged as unconstitutional or illegal.

Deputy religious affairs minister Zulkifli Hasan said Islamic religious affairs come under the jurisdiction of the various states.
PETALING JAYA:
The Federal Court decision declaring provisions in the Kelantan criminal shariah enactment unconstitutional does not affect the legality of similar laws passed in any of the other states, deputy religious affairs minister Zulkifli Hasan told the Dewan Rakyat.

He said the laws of these states remain valid as long as their constitutionality and legality are not challenged in court, Bernama reported.

Zulkifli was responding to Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) who wanted to know what the federal government intends to do to prevent the shariah laws enacted across the country from being challenged in court.

The apex court recently struck down 16 provisions in Kelantan’s Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019 on the grounds that they violated the Federal Constitution.

The constitutional challenge was brought by lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter, Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Tengku Abdul Rahman.

Zulkifli also said the Federal Constitution provides that the responsibility for Islamic matters, including shariah laws, falls within the jurisdiction of each state.

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