Stronger together: Zahid posing for pictures with his adoptive family in Hutan Melintang, Bagan Datuk, Perak. — Bernama
BAGAN DATUK: Muslim MPs can discuss the Federal Court’s ruling on Kelantan’s Syariah Criminal Code on the condition that they don’t politicise the issue, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said discussions should purely focus on how syariah laws can be strengthened and the talks must not be used for political mileage.
He pointed out that the apex court verdict was about the state laws passed by the Kelantan legislative assembly and not about the Syariah Court’s jurisdiction.
“I am agreeable to the suggestion for Muslim MPs to discuss the issue. However, discussions must be meant to unite ideas.
“That should be the agenda and not politics,” he said after attending a Chinese New Year celebration in Taman Desa Bersatu in Hulu Melintang here yesterday, Bernama reported.
The Deputy Prime Minister was asked about the proposal by Kelantan PAS deputy commissioner II Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah for all parties to come together to discuss strengthening syariah laws.
Ahmad Zahid said for now, the Cabinet has no plans to raise the issue at its weekly meeting.
“The Cabinet, as the Prime Minister stated, has never discussed this issue because it is a legal matter, specifically a matter related to several clauses in the Federal Constitution,” he said.
On Feb 9, the Federal Court ruled that 16 provisions of the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment 2019 were unconstitutional.
In an 8-1 majority decision, the apex court allowed the application by Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Tengku Abdul Rahman, to challenge 18 provisions in the code.
In its verdict, the Federal Court said the 16 provisions were null and void as the offences which they covered were already in the Penal Code.
Earlier, Ahmad Zahid visited his adoptive Chinese family to celebrate Chinese New Year.
He was welcomed by Beh Song Wan, 61, his wife Tian Mee Ping, 55, and their two children as well as Beh’s siblings.
“Every year, without fail, I will visit Bujang (Beh) for Chinese New Year,” he said.
He said that today would be a year since Beh’s mother, Cheah Seoh Lian, passed away.
Cheah, who was Ahmad Zahid’s adoptive mother, died on Feb 12 last year at the age of 83.
The Bagan Datuk MP’s close relationship with Cheah and her six children goes back decades and he considers them part of his own family.
