36.
However, in the case of ZI Publications Sdn Bhd & Anor v. Kerajaan Negeri
Selangor (Kerajaan Malaysia & Anor, Intervener)47, the Federal Court in its
conclusion states that
“Muslim in Malaysia is not only subjected to the general laws enacted by Parliament
but also to the state laws of religious nature enacted by Legislature of the state. This is
because the Federal Constitution allows the Legislature of a state to legislate and enact
offences against the precepts of Islam. Taking the Federation as a whole, it is clear that
it was the intention of the framers of the Constitution to allow Muslims in this country
to be also governed by Islamic personal law. Thus, a Muslim in this country is therefore
subjected to both the general laws enacted by Parliament and also the state laws enacted
by the Legislature of a state”.
Nevertheless, the argument on the validity of laws passed at the state or federal
level should be determine by the judicial pronouncement/system.
The Syariah Laws
37.
As provided in the Article 74(2) of the Federal Constitution that “without
prejudice to any power conferred on it by any other Article, the Legislature of
a State may make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the
State List (that is to say, the Second List set out in the Ninth Schedule) or the
Concurrent List”, which this include matters related to precepts of religion of
Islam.
38.
It is also important to highlight that Article 74(3) of the Federal Constitution
provides that “the power to make laws conferred by this Article is exercisable
subject to any conditions or restrictions imposed with respect to any particular
matter by this constitution”.
39.
Equally important is to note that each state in Malaysia has their own Syariah
laws which penalised the behaviour of “cross dressing”, “non-binary identities
and expressions” and other acts which are seen as not in line with Islamic
teachings which only apply to a Muslim. These laws are listed below48:
47
48
20
STATE
RELATED SECTION
Enakmen 4 Tahun 1992, Enakmen
Jenayah Syariah Negeri Sembilan 1992,
Bahagian IV – Kesalahan
“Section 66 – Lelaki berlagak
seperti Perempuan/ Male
person posting a woman”
Enakmen 9 tahun 1988, Enakmen Kanun
Jenayah Syariah 1988 (Negeri Kedah),
Bahagian II, Kesalahan-kesalahan
“Section 7 – Pondan”
[2016] 1MLJ 153
https://justiceforsisters.wordpress.com/laws/ (accessed on 16 May 2016)
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