KUALA LUMPUR – Police are currently investigating five reports concerning death threats against Kelantan-born lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid, who has been targeted due to her advocacy challenging provisions in Kelantan’s shariah criminal code.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that four reports were filed in Sri Hartamas, with the remaining one in Jinjang. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the reported threats.
Additionally, Saifuddin also said that police would be looking into allegations of criminal elements or gangsterism in Julau, Sarawak, prompted by information from MP Datuk Larry Sng.
He expressed confidence that police would address the issue promptly upon receiving relevant information.
The apex court on February 9 ruled in an 8-1 decision that the Kelantan legislative assembly had no power to enact 16 provisions in the Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019, as the offences in question fell within the purview of federal law.
Malaysia’s constitution stipulates the offences Parliament can make laws on (the Federal List or List I) and which ones state assemblies can legislate (State List or List II).
Nik Elin and her daughter Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Tengku Abdul Rahman filed their legal challenge in 2022, contesting 20 provisions, of which two were later dropped.
Of the remaining 18, the two that the Federal Court ruled as constitutional were Section 13 (selling or giving away a child to a non-Muslim or morally reprehensible Muslim) and Section 30 (words capable of breaking peace).
The Federal Court’s decision triggered outcry from leaders of PAS-led Kelantan, as well as Umno, who demanded amendments to the Federal Constitution to give states more power to make their own Islamic enactments. – February 16, 2024
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