KUALA LUMPUR – Police are ready to deal with provocative social media reactions to the Federal Court’s decision in the legal challenge brought by lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter against the constitutionality of Kelantan’s shariah provisions.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said that while no reports on such content had been lodged yet, police were expecting complainants to come forward soon.
“I believe that there will be reports lodged (since such content) threatens public peace and, to me, questions the court’s decision,” he told a press conference in Ulu Kinta, Perak today.
He said police reports were expected to be filed “today or tomorrow”.
“If reports are made by affected complainants, then we will carry out investigations.”
On February 9, a nine-member Federal Court bench delivered an 8-1 majority decision in favour of a petition brought by the Kelantan-born lawyer and her daughter, Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Tengku Abdul Rahman, to nullify certain criminal provisions under Kelantan shariah law.
The panel, chaired by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, struck out 16 of the 18 provisions named by the duo in their legal bid, and ruled that the state assembly had no power to enact the 16 provisions as the offences in question fell within the purview of federal law.
Previously, Nik Elin told Scoop that she and her daughter had received immense threats on social media following the apex court’s decision. She also said that she had lodged three police reports over the threats received.
Earlier today, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Allaudeen Abdul Majid said that police had identified the owners of three social media accounts believed to have issued the threatening remarks against Nik Elin.
He also said that one of three investigation papers on the matter had been submitted to the deputy public prosecutor for further action. – February 14, 2024