SHAH ALAM: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Youth (Armada) wing today warned the government to not make the wrong move in matters pertaining to Syariah law and institutions in the country.
Citing secularism practices carried out by former Turkiye president Mustafa Kemal Ataturk towards the nation during his administration, Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said Malaysia might also become a secular nation if the institution is being meddled with.
"One wrong move by the government can lead to misfortune and our country might face secular practices like what was enforced by Ataturk in Turkiye at one time.
"Wouldn't this lead to the erosion of sovereignty and powers of the Malay rulers, who are also the head of religion (Islam)?
"Hence, this is a stern warning (to the government) that we do not want to repeat the same situation that happened 73 years ago when the Muslim community rose to defend our religion in the case of Natrah Maarof," he said during his policy speech at the wing's assembly, today.
He added that Bersatu will also not allow Syariah law and institutions to be meddled and played with by any quarters.
At the same time, Wan Fayhsal also slammed the statement made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim where Perikatan Nasional (PN) had claimed ignorance over the constitutional challenge to the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code that was filed by a mother-daughter duo in 2022.
This, he said, was when the Malaysian National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) was chaired by the Malay ruler, Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah during PN's administration.
This was also the first time a Malay ruler had chaired the council since its establishment in 1968.
"The prime minister's statement that PN did nothing was unfounded and inaccurate. You are also now in power, how are your Law (and Institutional Reform) Ministry and Religious Affairs Ministry addressing Nik Elin and Iki Putra cases?
"If there are indeed genuine strategies, act decisively with a strong political will instead of being indifferent until things turn chaotic."
In 2022, Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid, a lawyer born in Kelantan and her daughter, Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Tengku Abdul Rahman filed a constitutional challenge against 20 provisions contained in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019.
They utilised Article 4(4) of the Federal Constitution to approach the Federal Court directly, listing the Kelantan state government as the respondent.
The duo contended that the power to legislate on criminal matters belongs exclusively to parliament, with state assemblies only given the right to enact laws concerning the Islamic faith.
They also filed the case directly with the Federal Court, which agreed to hear the constitutional challenge.
Meanwhile, the Federal Court earlier this week reserved judgment after hearing submissions from all parties involved and will later set a date to deliver its verdict over the petition.