Kota bharu: The draft amendment to the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment is in its final stage and is expected to be tabled at the State Legislative Assembly sitting in April, said State Islamic Development, Dakwah, Information and Regional Relations Committee chairman Mohd Asri Mat Daud. He mentioned that the draft is currently undergoing a review by the Jemaah Ulama of the Kelantan Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIK).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the proposed amendment will be presented to the State Executive Council once the review is completed, before being finalised for tabling at the state assembly sitting. Mohd Asri, speaking at the Iftar Perdana with the media programme, stated that the majority of the preparation for the amendments had been completed since the previous year. However, some aspects still require improvement before they can be finalized.

The review process includes a comprehensive study by various authoritative entities within the state government, such as the mufti, the Jemaah Ulama, and a panel of appointed lawyers. Mohd Asri also highlighted that the matter was discussed during a state executive council meeting, and an action plan or blueprint will be developed to ensure smooth implementation.

The need for this amendment arose after the State Legislative Assembly previously approved a motion to re-legislate the 16 offences in the Syariah Criminal Code Enactment (1) the State of Kelantan 2019. These offences were declared null and void by the Federal Court on February 9, 2024. A panel of nine judges, led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, annulled the enactment with an 8-1 majority decision, following a petition by lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter, Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Tengku Abdul Rahman.