A Perlis fatwa council member today said questions on whether amendments to Act 355 could ensure society's elite will be equally affected, is relevant.

Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli yesterday asked if the amendments to the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act to raise penalties the syariah courts can mete out will embolden religious enforcement officers to take action against royalty and other society elite who breach syariah enactments.

The MP said otherwise it will cast aspersions on Islam, as the heavier penalties only affect the poor and powerless.

"Rafizi's question on equality between the elite and the plebian in the enforcement of Act 355 must be addressed by those who support the amendments," said Rozaime Ramle, who is also a lecturer at the Islamic Studies Department of Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris (Upsi)...