PETALING JAYA: The Kelantan state legislative assembly is expected to pass the Syariah Criminal Offences (Kelantan) Bill 2026 on Wednesday (Aug 12).
According to Sinar Harian, the Bill aims to replace 16 provisions in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment 2019 that were struck down by the Federal Court last year.
Kelantan Deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan (pic) stated that the Bill was expected to be passed on Wednesday, with the process proceeding smoothly, including securing the Opposition Leader's support.
"Today we conclude the debate; tomorrow, the winding-up speech will be delivered, followed by the necessary proceedings. It will be put to a vote and passed, God-willing," he said.
He moved the motion to table the Bill, which was seconded by the state executive councillor for Islamic Development, Dakwah, Information, and Public Relations, Mohd Asri Mat Daud.
Meanwhile, Fadzli said that the Bill was drafted with meticulous care rather than haste, a process that took over two years.
He explained that this was to ensure its provisions fell within the jurisdiction of the state legislative assembly.
"The team comprised experts, including our former legal advisor, legal specialists, lawyers, academics, the mufti, and religious scholars. We took two years, more than two years, to ensure it falls within our jurisdiction," he said.
The tabling of the Bill had recently received the thumbs up from the PAS ulama council.
Council chief Datuk Ahmad Yahaya had said in a statement on Thursday (Aug 6) that the move reflected the PAS-led state government's determination to safeguard the legitimacy of syariah legislation while exercising the powers accorded to states under the Federal Constitution.
He had said the state government had also taken a positive step by ensuring that the drafting of the new Bill took into account the Federal Court's landmark ruling in the case of Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and another versus the Kelantan government that was delivered on Feb 9, 2024.
The Federal Court had struck down 16 provisions in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment 2019 after ruling that the state legislature had enacted laws on matters that fell within Parliament's jurisdiction.
