KUALA LUMPUR – The Sultan of Selangor’s call for all parties to respect the Federal Court’s decision on the Nik Elin case will help to lower the political temperature, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.
He welcomed the statement by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah who also reminded Muslims not to argue openly on the ruling that 16 provisions in the Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019 were unconstitutional.
“On behalf of the government, I welcome the statement of the Sultan of Selangor which firmly defends the spirit of the Federal Constitution.
“His statement lowers the temperature of the current political heat related to the Federal Court’s decision.
“For the Malay-Muslim community, this issue has become a hot political one to the point that abuse and insults are hurled against the judges and the government,” Anwar said today in his speech at a Chinese New Year celebration hosted by the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Malaysia here today.
“The Sultan’s statement shows that Malaysia follows the rule of law based on the constitution. Therefore, the Federal Court’s decision should be respected, whether it weakens or belittles the shariah courts is a matter that does not arise.”
Anwar added that any new proposals to strengthen the position of the shariah courts will be referred to the special committee on the competency of state legislatures to enact Islamic laws.
“The government has formed this committee with former chief justice Tun Zaki (Tun Azmi) as chairman to look into issues raised by all states on this matter.”
Sultan Sharafuddin earlier today said the special committee will be studying the Federal Court’s decision in the Nik Elin case, including the possibility of amending parts of the Federal Constitution, as well as federal laws, for clarity on state assemblies’ powers to enact shariah criminal laws.
Malaysia’s constitution stipulates which offences Parliament can make laws on (the Federal List or List I) and which ones state assemblies can legislate (State List or List II).
Sultan Sharifuddin had earlier reminded all politicians not to politicise the outcome of the Nik Elin case, calling for reasoned and civil discourse on differences of opinion regarding the decision.
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.
Anwar today took issue with the way certain parties had turned the case into a political issue, and stressed that the Federal Court’s decision did not belittle the functions of the shariah court. – February 15, 2024