Expedite Setting Up Committee On State Islamic Laws Enactment Mais

---

 


The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) has urged the government to expedite the establishment of a special committee to study the competency of state legislative assemblies to enact Islamic laws.
Its chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said this is in view of cases that use litigation to allegedly threaten Islam's position as the federal and states' official religion.
He cited the constitutional challenge by lawyer Nik Elin Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter on the 20 provisions contained in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019, as well as the challenge by Iki Putra Mubarrak against a provision under the Selangor Syariah criminal enactment which punishes "sexual intercourse against the order of nature".
"In regard to the cases, Mais respects the court proceedings and the power of the Federal Court to decide on matters pertaining to the administration of justice.
"However, Mais is of the opinion that immediate action needs to be taken to ensure cases like Nik Elin and Iki Putra will not recur in the future. This is because such conflicts affect the state's powers when it comes to Islam," Abdul Aziz (above) said in a statement today.
Abdul Aziz further urged Putrajaya to abide by the call by Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to immediately establish a special committee to conduct an in-depth and critical study on the competency of state legislative assemblies to enact Islamic laws under state enactments and the jurisdiction of Syariah Courts.
The ruler, who is also the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs chairperson, said this is due to the number of cases under the jurisdiction of Syariah Courts being challenged at the Federal Court, particularly concerning the competency of state legislative assemblies in formulating and approving Islamic (syariah) laws, as well as the jurisdiction of the Syariah Courts that preside over them.
Elaborating, Abdul Aziz said that Mais remains committed to strengthening the position of Islam in Selangor.
"Thus, Mais hopes the federal government would involve all state Islamic councils, including Mais, to be part of the special committee.
"This is to ensure comprehensive action can be taken to resolve issues related to the competence of state legislatures in legislating Islamic laws in order to maintain the position of Islam as the federal and state religion." - Mkini

---