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Kelantan's state assembly has unanimously passed the Syariah Criminal Offences (Kelantan) Bill 2026, a revamped legislative framework designed to address constitutional constraints identified by the Federal Court last year.
Kelantan will present its Syariah Offences Bill 2026 to the state assembly this week, replacing a 2019 enactment struck down by the Federal Court for exceeding state legislative authority.
A proposal to create uniform standards for Syariah lawyer accreditation across Malaysia will be submitted to the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs, potentially enabling lawyers to practise nationwide without separate state assessments.
Pahang's Sultan has called for strengthening community service sentences as an alternative to traditional punishments in Syariah criminal cases, promoting rehabilitation over retribution.
Malaysia's Prime Minister's Department is investigating allegations that a JAKIM reference number was improperly used to validate marriage documents issued by the Malaysia Rohingya Ulama Council, raising concerns about document authenticity.
A Syariah Lower Court in Kota Baru has postponed the trial of 14 men charged with dressing as women at a Jalan Mahmood apartment. The adjournment marks a procedural pause in a case that draws continued attention to how Islamic courts handle matters of religious law compliance in Malaysia.