PUTRAJAYA: Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid, who launched a legal bid to challenge provisions in Kelantan syariah law said she did not derive any personal benefit from her action.
Instead, the 62-year-old lawyer said the petition, which she filed together with her daughter Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Tengku Abdul Rahman, 26, was made to defend the sovereignty of the country.
"As lawyers, we are officers of the court and I believe it is indeed our duty as a legal practitioner to uphold and defend the sovereignty of the law.
"I do this not for myself but for everyone," she said.
Nik Elin said despite being scorned, insulted and subjected to harsh words following the petition, she remains grateful for successfully upholding the Federal Constitution for the betterment of the country.
Meanwhile, when asked about the reaction of the Kelantanese upon her return to her hometown, she said nothing unfavourable occured.
"I went back without facing any condemnation... everyone supported me.
"If there were claims of condemnation, I believe it is a manipulation of facts because I did not encounter any issues," she said.
Earlier, the Federal Court, in a landmark ruling stated that 16 out of 18 provisions under the Kelantan syariah criminal enactment were unconstitutional.
Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said the legislative powers of the Federal and State governments have been determined by the Federal Constitution in the Federal List and State list.
She said neither Parliament nor the state legislative bodies can enact laws beyond their respective lists.
Other members of the bench were Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sebli, and federal court judges Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan, Datuk Mary Lim Thiam Suan, Datuk Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal, Datuk Nordin Hassan, and Datuk Abu Bakar Jais.