KOTA BARU: The seven men who were slapped with notices for wearing thigh-length shorts in Tanah Merah recently are now required to attend counseling sessions.
Kelantan Religious Affairs Department (JHEAIK) chief assistant director Mohd Fadzuli Mohd Zain said the seven were ordered to attend the sessions at the Tanah Merah district religious enforcement division.
"They were given a certain date to go to the division for the counselling session.
"This serves as a warning to them for violating the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019," he told the New Straits Times.
Mohd Fadzuli said the seven were issued with the warning notices for breaching Section 21 and Section 23 of the enactment.
He said Section 21 was for behaving impolitely in public (wearing shorts) that was contrary to the Syariah law.
For this offence, the men can be fined RM2,000 or be sentenced to one year's jail.
Section 23 entails exposing the aurat (parts of body that need to be covered). For this, offenders can face RM1,000 fine and six months' jail.
Mohd Fadzuli said the warning notice was more to educate the men to cover their aurat.
"This enactment only applies to Muslim men and women," he added.
Last Friday, JHEAIK issued warning notices to seven men for wearing thigh-length shorts. The operation was conducted at a sisha outlet in Gertak Chaber, Tanah Merah.
Seven 'shisha' pipes were seized in the operation and the operator was also issued a warning notice.
During the operation, the health department issued 11 compound notices totalling RM1,900.