THE Shah Alam Shariah High Court today reduced the fine of RM2,900 to RM1,900 for Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, saving him the loss of his seat in the process.

Judge Salehan Yatim reduced the fine but upheld the conviction after hearing Khalid’s appeal.

The court said the fine of RM2,900 had serious consequences for the MP and could cost the people of Shah Alam their elected representative.

According to the rules of the Election Commission, an elected representative is disqualified from service if he is convicted of an offence that merited a RM2,000 fine.

Khalid was fined RM2,900 or two months in jail by the Syariah Subordinate Courts in January, under Section 119 (1) of the Selangor Religious Administration Enactment 2003 for teaching Islam without credentials. He allegedly committed the offence at the Taman Seri Sementa Klang surau on August 16, 2011.

Khalid was today represented by Dr Zulkarnain Luqman. The shariah prosecutor was Aiman ​​Roslan.

Khalid, who is the Amanah communications director, thanked the Syariah High Court judge for a just decision.

“Although I was convicted of violating an existing law, I think this is a fairer sentence as it will not affect my position as a member of parliament,” Khalid told The Malaysian Insight.

He was also grateful to the respondents who said today that he had not committed an offence in the eyes of Islam although the law viewed it otherwise. – November 24, 2017.