Kelantan ready to defend new shariah law in court, says deputy MB
Fadzli Hassan says the enactment was drafted after various parties, including legal, shariah and constitutional experts, scrutinised the proposed provisions.
Kelantan's deputy chief minister, Fadzli Hassan, has declared the state's preparedness to defend the recently amended Shariah Criminal Offences (Kelantan) Enactment 2026 should it face legal challenges. This stance comes after a section of the previous law was deemed unconstitutional by the Federal Court in 2024. Speaking to reporters, Fadzli emphasized that anyone wishing to challenge the law is welcome to do so, and the courts will assess the legitimacy of such challenges.
The new enactment has undergone a rigorous drafting process, incorporating input from legal, religious, and constitutional experts, according to Fadzli. The state assembly unanimously approved amendments to remove the 16 provisions previously struck down, ensuring the law aligns with the Federal Constitution and does not exceed the state's legislative authority.
However, lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Rashid, one of the petitioners in the 2024 case, cautioned that at least 11 provisions in the new law could still be challenged in court. She urged the law to serve justice, benefit, and well-being to the people, rather than becoming a tool for political rhetoric.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Kelantan ready to defend new shariah law in court, says deputy MB freemalaysiatoday.com
