KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — A Kedah Umno Youth leader has urged for the formation of the Shariah equivalent of the Federal Court, the country’s highest court, free from the interference of the civil courts.

Kedah Umno Youth Movement chief Datuk Saiful Hazizi Zainal Abidin was reported as saying the Shariah Federal Court should handle high-profile religious cases that could stir dissatisfactions if they were to be heard by the civil courts.

“Umno Youth regrets the actions of certain quarters who are too liberal in religious issues and who are always looking for opportunities to issue statements that contradict the Islamic faith,” Saiful Hazizi was quoted saying in a statement by Umno-linked daily Utusan Malaysia today.

“The technical aspects of the law cannot be used as a justification for certain cases as they need to take into account the sensitivities and norms of every religion and community,” he added.

Shariah courts are set up under state laws, while civil courts ― the High Courts, Court of Appeal and Federal Court ― are established under the Federal Constitution.

The Umno Youth leader’s remarks were made in response to the landmark Court of Appeal decision that ruled that Section 66 of the Negri Sembilan Shariah Criminal Enactment 1992, which prohibits Muslim men from cross-dressing, was unconstitutional and void as the state law violated several fundamental liberties enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

The appellate court had said the law was discriminatory as it failed to recognise men diagnosed with gender identity disorder ― in which male sufferers identify themselves as women ― and ruled last Friday in favour of three Muslim transgenders ― Muhamad Juzaili Mohd Khamis, Shukur Jani and Wan Fairol Wan Ismail ― who were convicted of cross-dressing under the Negri Sembilan shariah law.