Kuala pilah: The Syariah High Court here today allowed an application by a ‘mudir’ (principal) of a religious school for a stay of the execution of his prison sentence imposed by the court for teaching Islam without accreditation. Syariah High Court Judge Zulfikri Yasoa granted the application after being satisfied with the arguments submitted by the defence during the hearing, which was conducted in the absence of the applicant, Zahanizam Rohan, 52.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Judge Zulfikri also ordered that the stay take effect immediately and granted bail of RM3,000 with one surety pending Zahanizam’s appeal against the sentence at the Appeal Court. Syariah lawyer Boestaman Ahmad, representing Zahanizam, said the application was made due to his client’s deteriorating health condition, as he suffers from a hernia and is scheduled to undergo surgery next month at a hospital in Batu Pahat, Johor.

‘The applicant is scheduled to be released in January 2026, but his health has worsened significantly, prompting us to file the notice of appeal as soon as possible. His condition requires treatment at a specialist clinic, but he is currently only receiving care from a general clinic in prison,’ said the lawyer.

Zahanizam was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and fined RM2,000 by the Syariah Lower Court here on Nov 13 last year after pleading guilty to a charge of teaching Islam without accreditation at a madrasah in Kampung Ulu Beting, Kuala Pilah.