By Fitri Hazim Hazam
PETALING JAYA, Feb 18 — All quarters, regardless of political affiliation, must comply with the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj’s decree, wherein His Royal Highness to respect the Federal Court’s decision.
State executive councillor for Islamic affairs Dr Fahmi Ngah said proposals can be submitted to the Special Committee to Review the Competence of the State Legislative Assembly to enact Islamic laws before they are taken to the next stage.
He said the process of the special committee, established under the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI), should be used as a debating space for suggestions and ideas in strengthening the competence of the State Legislature, according to the given one-year period.
“The original purpose of establishing the MKI special committee was to resolve the issue of overlap between Federal law and state syariah, which needs to be utilised by all parties as a platform to discuss competency-related issues in detail.
“Representing Selangor, two representatives from the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) are a part of the MKI Special Committee, and will be involved in the debate and study methods for any necessary suggestions and improvements,” Fahmi said.
He was speaking at the officiation of the Seri Setia state assembly’s Khatan Perdana 2024 programme at the Tabung Haji Hotel in Kelana Jaya yesterday.
On February 15, Sultan Sharafuddin, speaking as chairman of the 71st MKI, said it is important to find a way to overcome the issue by studying methods of expanding the competence of the State Legislature to enact syariah criminal laws, within the framework set by the Federal Constitution.
His Royal Highness’ remarks come after the Federal Court’s decision on February 9, which declared 16 syariah criminal offences in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment as null and void.
The Ruler called on all parties, especially Muslims, to remain calm and not cause any commotion while waiting for the special committee’s recommendations.
Meanwhile, Fahmi also reminded the public not to politicise the Federal Court’s decision on the case of lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid challenging Kelantan’s syariah criminal enactment.
“The issue does not need to be polemical and politicised as it involves legal aspects. The Federal Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has guaranteed that syariah law will be protected.
“According to the judgement, the Federal Court’s decision also does not touch or degrade the dignity of the Syariah Court and the power of the states to enact syariah crimes involving Islam,” he said.
