Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak has defended the amendment made to the Mufti and Fatwa (Kedah Darul Aman) Enactment, saying the matter should not be politicised.

NONE Azizan ( left ) was reported by the English language daily The Star as saying the state had been discussing the matter for two years.

“The amendment has nothing to do with the madrasah salihiah surau suit (against the PAS led state government) over the development of a shopping mall.

“Non-Muslims should not be too worried as the amended enactment does not apply to them,” he said.

On April 17 Kedah state legislative assembly passed the controversial Mufti and Fatwa Enactment which bars people from questioning fatwa (edicts) in any civil or syariah courts.

Several critics including the vocal former Perlis mufti Dr Asri Zainul Abidin had described the amendment as undemocratic and “kills intellectualism”.

Even the Islamic Renaissance Front has greeted the new fatwa ruling with alarm .