T'ganu Syariah amendments to punish women acting as men

T'ganu Syariah amendments to punish women acting as men


The Terengganu state legislative assembly has passed the amendment to the Syariah Criminal Offences (Punishments) Enactment 2022 to strengthen the implementation of Syariah law in the state.

State Syariah Implementation, Education and Higher Education committee chairperson Satiful Bahri Mamat said the amendments were aimed at improving the state’s Syariah Criminal Offences (Punishments) Enactment 2001, which includes the addition of four new sections and 21 amendments to the existing punishments.

The four new sections include offences for Section 3A (witchcraft and black magic), 29A (pregnancy or giving birth out of wedlock), 33A (women acting as men) and 36A (sodomy ‘preparation’)(persediaan melakukan liwat).

“Several additions and amendments have been made where the basis for the amendment is to replace in accordance to the current terms,” Satiful (above) was reported as saying by Sinar Harian.

He also told reporters today that such amendments were made to maximise the punishment as per the federal Act 355 (Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction Act) which allows Syariah courts to impose maximum sentences of imprisonment not exceeding three years, any fine not exceeding RM5,000 or with whipping not exceeding six strokes or with any combination thereof for offences under the Islamic law.

On Section 3A (witchcraft and black magic), Satiful was reported by the Malay daily as saying that the state Religious Affairs Department has established a coordinating committee to monitor the matter.

He said the establishment of the unit is to ensure Muslims get alternative treatment that does not conflict with Syariah law and there are no elements that are against Islam.

"It is the same with the punishment of women acting like men. The enactment that existed before was for men acting like women only. This is why it was created because that trend is seen to be more prevalent recently.”

He stressed that the amendment is timely considering that it has been enacted for more than 20 years and the last amendment was made in 2016 involving only five sections.

The enforcement of the enactment will begin after getting the assent of the Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin.