KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 — Kelantan explained that sex between women, with corpses, and with animals are categorised as sodomy in its new amended Shariah Criminal Code II (1993) Enactment passed today.

According to Deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, that was the reason why three sections previously outlawing the three “sex against nature” offences were struck out from the proposal.

“We cannot mention all that as all those things are included under sodomy,” Mohd Amar said as quoted by news portal Malaysiakini.

“When punishment for sodomy remains, it includes all those things, gay and lesbian; all those things are under the offence of sodomy. Sodomy is for all same-sex activities.”

Despite that, Section 14 of the enactment that outlaws “liwat” precisely defined the word meaning “sodomy” as “anal sex” — or the act of sex involving anus.

Mohd Amar did not explain, however, how lesbian sex, necrophilia, and bestiality would be dealt with under the section expressly involves anal sex.

Malay Mail Online reported yesterday that the enactment now outlaws sodomy between husbands and wives, when previously it only covered the offence committed between men, or between a man and a woman out of wedlock.

Section 15(1) prescribed the punishment for “liwat” between unmarried couples as the same as committing “zina”, or illicit sex ― which could include stoning until death.

Section 15(2) said that married couples who commit anal sex will only be punished by “ta’zir”, or penal punishments decided by a judge.

Currently under Section 14 of Kelantan’s Shariah Criminal Code Enactment 1985, “liwat” is punishable by fine not more than RM5,000, jail not more than three years or both, and six lashes.

Sodomy is also punishable under the Penal Code, with Section 377B prescribing the penalty of jail up to 20 years and whipping, and the same penalty is also prescribed for bestiality under Section 377 of the Penal Code.

The Kelantan State Legislative Assembly today passed amendments to the Shariah Criminal Code II 1993 to pave way for the controversial implementation of hudud laws in the state.