Restorative sentencing, higher penalties among key reforms in Kelantan Syariah Bill

KOTA BARU: Restorative sentencing, compoundable offences, and higher penalties are key reforms in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Offences (Kelantan) Bill 2026. Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan stated the Bill strengthens restorative sentencing by enforcing community service orders within a year. For compoundable offences, the Sultan of Kelantan dictates the types of offences, procedures, and forms through a gazette publication.

Higher penalties emphasize whipping for severe actions, such as attempting to convert others from Islam, neglecting children's religious beliefs, failing to uphold modesty, consuming alcohol, gambling, engaging in illicit sexual activities, and having unmarried pregnancies. The Bill introduces six new clauses addressing negligence in obligatory prayers, safeguarding private parts, other body parts, intellectual protection, Syariah offences compounding, and relevant authorities' compounding powers.

It also repeals and re-enacts certain sections of the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment (EKJS) 2019, including the destruction of places of worship and sodomy. Kelantan's State Legislative Assembly voted unanimously in favor of the Bill, streamlining and reinforcing the state's Syariah criminal law framework. The Bill consists of nine parts, 62 clauses, and one schedule, covering obligatory prayers, safeguarding private parts and body parts, intellectual protection, restorative sentencing, whipping, and offence compounding.