Fatwa Bill passed with ‘majority of voices’

Kedah Speaker: Fatwa Bill passed with 'majority of voices'

 
 

ALOR SETAR: The amendment to the Mufti and Fatwa (Kedah Darul Aman) Enactment 2008 was passed by the state assembly sitting with a "majority of voices".

State assembly Speaker Datuk Dr Abd Isa Ismail said although there were some who did not shout in agreement, the Bill was passed due to the majority of voices.

He claimed that some of those in the House did not agree but the number was small.

The amendment to the enactment provides that a fatwa decided by the state mufti or Fatwa Committee, whether gazetted or not, cannot be challenged, appealed, reviewed, denied or questioned in any civil court or syariah court.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak had said that the new provision was to give conclusiveness to any fatwa decided by the committee or mufti.

Kedah Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Paduka Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said some Barisan backbenchers supported the amendment after listening to the explanation.

"When the amendment was tabled, a number of assemblymen including Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (Pedu), Datuk Dr Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail (Guar Chempedak), Dr Leong Yong Kong (Gurun) and Dr Cheah Soon Hai (Derga) stood up with questions.

"We stood up to protest the words used in the amendment because we wanted further clarification," he said, adding that the amendment only affected Muslims.

Dr Cheah said the amendment was undemocratic as no one could challenge the mufti or committee.

"A few of us voted by shouting tidak setuju (disagree) but since the majority agreed to it, the Bill was passed," he said.

Barisan has 14 members in the 36-seat state assembly.