Tabling motion against me akin to criticising Islamic Family Law: Shabudin

BUTTERWORTH: Tabling a motion to censure Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya for his remarks on sexual crimes against children is akin to criticising the Islamic Family Law (State of Penang) Enactment 2004.
Commenting on Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's criticism of him, Shabudin said the tabling of such motion at the state assembly, would also mean a challenge to Section 8 and Section 18 of the same enactment.
"If Lim tables the motion against me, I want him to show his stand over Section 8 of the Islamic Family Law (State of Penang) Enactment 2004 and Section 18 of the same enactment in the state," he told reporters during a visit to Pengkalan Machang, Sungai Dua here.
According to Section 8, no marriage may be solemnised under this Enactment where either the man is under the age of eighteen or the woman is under the age of sixteen except where the Syariah Judge has granted his permission in writing in certain circumstances.
Section 18 states that the Syariah Judge on being satisfied of the truth of the matter stated in the application and the legality of the intended marriage and that the case merits the granting of permission for the purposes of Section 8, shall, at any time after reference of the application to him and upon payment of the prescribed fee, issue to the applicants his permission to marry in the prescribed form.
"I delivered Section 8 and 18 of the Islamic Family Law Enactment in Parliament because of the motion by Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching for an amendment to the Sexual Offences against Children Bill 2017 for child marriages to be banned.
"Section 8 and 18 of the Islamic Family Law Enactment will be affected if such an amendment is passed," he said.
Earlier this month, Lim said the state government will file a motion to condemn Shabudin for his remarks when the state assembly convenes in May.
This was after Shabudin suggested in Parliament that statutory rape victims should be allowed to marry their rapists as a remedy to social problems.