The lodging of a police report by a royal family member regarding the new amendment to a fatwa (edicts) law is "inappropriate", according Kedah religion, education and cooperative committee chief Mohamed Taulan Mat Rasul.

He was referrring to the amendment barring the questioning of a state fatwa in any court, that had won the endorsement of the Kedah sultan prior to its tabling at the state assembly.

NONE "The sultan has agreed. Before we tabled the amendment at the assembly, we had sought an audience with his majesty and he gave the approval.

"Why the need for a police report at all?" Mohamed Taulan (right) said when contacted yesterday.

Sultan's kin Tunku Mansur Tunku Kassim on April 22 had lodged a police report at the Alor Setar police headquarters against the amendment, condemning the new Section 22A for granting full authority to the mufti and the fatwa committee.

He also opined that the new law lowers the integrity, sovereignty and the Kedah sultan's power as the state religion's head.

When asked about the views of several prominent religious figures questioning the new law, Mohamed Taulan said the statements were uttered from a lack of understanding.

"They had not not read the entire enactment," he said.

"They should have come and see us. He did not see me before he commented. (Hence) they have less information and lack understanding of this enactment," he said.

He added that the amendment to Section 22A should be read together with Section 23 which states that fatwa could be reviewed and referred back to the fatwa committee.

He pointed out that in the case of someone being unhappy with a certain fatwa, they always referred to the best and brightest in the religion for deliberatation.

Current and former Perlis mufti - Juanda Jaya and Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin - had made negative comments on the issue separately, describing the new law as undemocratic and "killing the intellect".