Kelantan prepares legal defence for new Islamic law

Kelantan's government is prepared to mount a robust legal defence of its new Islamic law should the legislation be contested in the courts, according to deputy chief minister Fadzli Hassan.

Fadzli said the state's legal counsel has made contingency preparations to protect the enactment from judicial scrutiny. The assurance comes as the Kelantan government moves forward with implementing the new Islamic legal framework.

The deputy chief minister's comments underscore the state administration's commitment to safeguarding the legislative measure, which falls within the jurisdiction of state Islamic affairs. Legal experts have noted that Islamic law in Malaysia remains primarily a state matter, though federal and constitutional considerations may apply in certain circumstances.

Kelantan, a state with a significant Muslim majority, has traditionally been at the forefront of developing Islamic legal mechanisms within Malaysia's constitutional framework. The state government has previously initiated similar legislative initiatives, some of which have withstood legal examination.