Cross-dressers on Kelantan religious authorities’ radar

KOTA BARU: Kelantan religious authorities, which have banned people here from wearing shorts or revealing clothing, will also penalise cross-dressers.

State Islamic Development committee chairman Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud warned that those wearing clothes associated with the opposite gender were liable to be charged under Section 5(1) of Syariah Criminal Enactment.

“The penalty includes a maxi- mum RM1,000 fine or six months’ jail or both,” he said at the state assembly in response to a question by Mohamad Awang (PAS-Gua Periok).

Mohamad had asked what kind of action was being taken to check LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender).

Nassuruddin said action would be taken against effeminate men acting and dressing like women.

He said under Section 7, action could be taken against effeminate individuals. They are liable to a maximum fine of RM1,000 and six months’ jail.

Nassuruddin said from 2015 to October this year, the state authorities had charged 31 such individuals in the syariah court.

“For sodomy, the penalty includes a RM5,000 fine, three years’ imprisonment and whipping six times.

“We must be proactive in curbing such illicit activities. Otherwise we will incur God’s wrath.

“Palu (in Indonesia) was hit by a tsunami because of widespread LGBT activities there,” he said.

Nassurudin said Kelantan religious authorities would continue raiding premises, including privately-owned homes, to check on immoral activities.

On another matter, Kelantan tabled a RM35.07mil deficit state budget for next year.

Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob, who tabled a RM778.78mil budget against projected revenue amounting to RM743.71mil, said Kelantan was hoping that the Pakatan Harapan federal government would honour its general election manifesto to grant petroleum royalty to the state.

“We can then include the petrole- um royalty in the state budget,” he said after tabling the Kelantan Budget 2019 at the state legislative assembly.

Ahmad said although Kelantan had tabled a deficit budget, the quantum had been consistently reduced over the last four years.

“In 2015, we tabled a RM70.69mil deficit budget, the quantum was reduced to RM45.61mil in 2016, to RM42.65mil in 2017, and to RM41.74mil this year.”

He attributed the deficit reduction to the increase in revenue collection and good governance.