Did the Gerakan members state their religious affiliation?

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Gerakan Members Did Not State Religious Affiliation in Hudud Law Challenge

The Federal Court dismissed an application by three Gerakan members seeking to challenge the constitutionality of Kelantan's hudud law because they failed to declare their religious affiliation. The court accepted the argument that challenges to the law, which applies only to Muslims, should be initiated by individuals who are directly affected by it.
Applicants Did Not Specify Religious Status

In their affidavits, the three Gerakan members, Tuan Mat Tuan Wil, Soh Hoon Lee, and Ching Mon Sie, did not state whether they were Muslims. This omission was a critical factor in the Federal Court's decision, as the law under challenge is exclusively applicable to Muslims.
Kelantan Government's Argument on Standing

Kelantan's counsel, Sulaiman Abdullah, contended that the court should only permit constitutional challenges from individuals whose interests have been demonstrably affected by the state's enactment of hudud law. He specifically questioned how the second and third applicants, who did not have Muslim names and had not identified as Muslim, could claim to be affected by the law.
Federal Government's Position on Specificity

Senior federal counsel Suzana Atan, representing the federal government, echoed concerns regarding the applicants' standing. She argued that the Gerakan trio had not specified which particular provision of the Kelantan hudud law they intended to challenge and reiterated that the challenge should be limited to Muslims.
Gerakan Lawyer's Argument on Constitutional Remedy

The applicants' lawyer, Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, maintained that the legal challenge was neither frivolous nor vexatious. He asserted that all citizens have the right to mount such a challenge as a constitutional remedy, irrespective of whether their direct interests had been affected, arguing that restricting this right would impose conditions not stipulated by the Federal Constitution.

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Did the Gerakan members state their religious affiliation?

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