MAINS urged to appeal Federal Court on cross-dressing

The Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Council (MAINS) has been urged to file an appeal to the Federal Court on the decision by the Court of Appeal to allow three Muslim men to dress like women.

Coalition of Malaysian Muslim Lawyers (ISMA) chairman Muhammad Luthfi Abdul Khalid said the appeal was crucial because it concerned the integrity of MAINS as the custodian of Muslims' interest.

"If the appeal is not made, the decision (by the Court of Appeal) would be a precedent for similar issues that might arise in future," he said in a statement yesterday.

He warned that it could also be used as a reference by other states and the Federal Territories, because the state Islamic religious authorities would have no option other than be bound by the decision.

The Court of Appeal in a landmark ruling yesterday, declared as invalid, a provision in the Negeri Sembilan Syariah Law criminalising cross-dressing.

A three-member panel chaired by Justice Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus declared as unconstitutional, Section 66 of the Negri Sembilan Syariah Criminal Enactment 1992, as it discriminated against men who suffer from a medical condition called gender identity disorder (GID).