Veteran lawmaker Karpal Singh reminded Parliament that it cannot enforce the unconstitutional "hudud" law, which was passed by the Kelantan state assembly in 1993.

In a statement today, the senior lawyer said the passing of the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Court Enactment II in the state assembly was unconstitutional in the first place.

"The state assembly had no jurisdiction to pass the enactment and parliament cannot enforce an unconstitutional enactment passed by a state assembly," he said.

The former DAP chairperson, known for his strong stand against hudud, was commenting on Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yaakob's statement yesterday that the state will table a private member’s bill in parliament later this year to seek a declaration that the enactment can be implemented there.

The hudud law was passed during former Kelantan menteri besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat's tenure.

Meanwhile, Karpal said the move by the PAS-led government, was ill-advised and added that hudud was certainly not for the present age and time.

"It is parliament which has the jurisdiction to pass criminal laws. Hudud has very serious implications and consequences. Parliament will not, and cannot, pass laws of this category," he exclaimed.

The veteran lawyer said the DAP's position on hudud is clear time and again, and its stand cannot be compromised.

"It is fundamental to the party's existence. The passing of such a law will not be in national interest," he added.