PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has reserved its ruling on a mother and daughter’s constitutional challenge over the competency of the Kelantan state assembly in enacting 18 provisions contained in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019.
Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who led a panel of nine judges, reserved the court’s decision after hearing submissions from the Federal Territories Islamic religious department (MAIWP), the Perak Islamic Religious Council and Malay Customs (MAIPK), the Kelantan Islamic Religious Council (MAIK), the Muslim Lawyers Association Malaysia, the Malaysian Bar, and rights group Sisters in Islam (SIS).
The court had on Aug 17 heard arguments from lawyers appearing for Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter, Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Tengku Abdul Rahman, as well as the Kelantan state government.
Appearing for the religious councils and Muslim lawyers’ group, lawyers Rafique Rashid Ali, Adham Jamalullail Ibrahim, Arham Rahimy Hariri and Haniff Khatri Abdulla had told the court they objected to the duo’s constitutional challenge.
They said the state assembly is empowered to enact the provisions in question.
Lawyers Edmund Bon and Fahri Azzat, appearing for the Bar and SIS, told the court they supported Elin’s petition.
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