A total of 71 sections pertaining to Syariah criminal offences have been enforced under the new Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 2013 as of Dec 1, according to the Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council.  

Its deputy president, Wan Abdul Wahid Wan Hassan, said the 71 sections included two new sections, namely Section 13 and Sections 33 and 34.      

Section 13 is on the sanctity of the Islamic religion and its institutions, and touches on the offences of contempt and defiance of the sultan and religious agencies under his jurisdiction.      

"The penalty is a fine of up to RM3,000 or a maximum jail term of two years, or both, upon conviction," he told reporters.       

Sections 33 and 34 are related to men behaving as women and vice versa in public for immoral purposes.      

The penalty is a fine of up to RM1,000 or a maximum jail term of one year, or both, upon conviction.      

Wan Abdul Wahid said the matter received the consent of the Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah, on Oct 25.      

"Previously, Syariah criminal offences came under the Pahang Islamic Religious Administration and Malay Customs Enactment 1982," he said.

Wan Abdul Wahid Wan Abdul Wahid said the enforcement of the new enactment involved several amendments in terms of the quantum of fines.      

- Bernama