ALOR SETAR, Aug 30- The Kedah Islamic Religious Department (JAIK) can now take action immediately against any individual reported to be involved in the Syiah teachings without feeling awry, said Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir.
He said stern action could be taken after the State Legislative Assembly passed a law under the Kedah Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment to enable enforcement to be carried out to check Syiah teachings in the state, last Tuesday.
He said previously if the authorities were in a quandary to take action even if an individual was guilty of spreading the Syiah teachings, under the new enactment, specific action could be taken against the individual concerned.
“If there is any report (on the Syiah teaching) made, action will be taken immediately with the passing of the enactment. I believe they (JAIK) had actually received the reports previously.
“We know of the activities to spread the Syiah teachings in several areas in the state….Maybe action can be taken based of the report previously,” he told reporters after flagging off a group of participants for the “Kayuhan Merdeka” Maktab Rendah Sains MARA Kubang Pasu, at the Wisma Darul Aman grounds, here Thursday.
The decision to pass the law was made on the third day of the 13th Kedah State Legislative Assembly sitting here after the opposition disagreed in principle on the amendment to the enactment.
In the block voting, believed to be the first held in the Kedah State Assembly, 21 Assemblymen supported the motion for the passing of the enactment while nine objected, four assemblymen abstained while two others did not vote.
– BERNAMA
