{
  "id": 3888702,
  "title": "Ex-CJ defends striking down Kelantan shariah enactment provisions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/ex-cj-defends-striking-down-kelantan-shariah-enactment-provisions",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T04:37:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/08/28/ex-cj-defends-striking-down-kelantan-shariah-enactment-provisions"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat defended the Federal Court's 2024 decision to strike down 16 provisions in Kelantan's 2019 Shariah criminal enactment. The court ruled that these provisions were unconstitutional because they dealt with offenses that should have been handled by Parliament. Tengku Maimun emphasized that the decision was not aimed at undermining Islam or weakening the shariah courts. The apex court's 8-1 majority decision was meant to delineate the boundary of powers, preventing potential legal anarchy and a violation of the federal system. Two years after the ruling, Kelantan passed a new 62-section law, but lawyer Nik Elin Nik Rashid later stated that at least 11 provisions could still be challenged in court. Tengku Maimun, who retired in July 2025, highlighted the challenging responsibility of defending key institutions like the courts, noting that those serving in these institutions must have strong principles and never compromise them for popularity or external pressures.",
  "summary": "Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat says the 2024 apex court's decision was not to weaken the shariah courts' position but to correct the Kelantan assembly overstepping its bounds.",
  "key_points": [
    "Former Chief Justice Tengku Maimun defended 2024 Federal Court decision.",
    "Court ruled 16 Kelantan Shariah provisions unconstitutional.",
    "Decision aimed to delineate power boundaries, not undermine Islam."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Federal Court's decision to strike down Kelantan's shariah enactment provisions sets a boundary on the powers of state shariah courts, preventing potential legal conflicts and upholding the federal system.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Ex-CJ defends striking down Kelantan shariah enactment provisions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/ex-cj-defends-striking-down-kelantan-shariah-enactment-provisions-3893107",
        "published": "2026-08-28T04:37:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}