Vehicles move slowly on the road as snow falls Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, in Wheeling, Ill. The first significant snowstorm of the season blanketed some parts of the Midwest with more than a foot of snow and more was on the way Saturday, creating hazardous travel conditions and flight delays. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The National Weather Service forecast 20 degrees or lower across six states from North Dakota to Illinois.
This is the season’s first major snow for the region.
In Chicago, residents were digging out of more than 11 inches of snow.
Please click the photos for larger images:
Snow covers the roof of a barn north of Independence, Iowa, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015. The first significant snowstorm of the season blanketed some parts of the Midwest with more than a foot of snow and more was on the way Saturday, creating hazardous travel conditions and flight delays. (Kelsey Kremer/The Des Moines Register via AP) MAGS OUT, TV OUT, NO SALES, MANDATORY CREDIT
Crews at Montini High School work to remove snow from the field before the Class 6A semifinal high school football game against Prairie Ridge in Lombard, Ill. The first significant snowstorm of the season blanketed some parts of the Midwest with more than a foot of snow and more was on the way Saturday, creating hazardous travel conditions and flight delays. (Daniel White/Daily Herald via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT; MAGS OUT
A woman cleans snow from her car on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, in Northbrook, Ill. The first significant snowstorm of the season blanketed some parts of the Midwest with more than a foot of snow and more was on the way Saturday, creating hazardous travel conditions and flight delays. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Daron Jones, University of Wisconsin’s associate director of events and operations, trudges through the snow-covered west stands before an NCAA college football game between Wisconsin and Northwestern at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015. The first significant snowstorm of the season blanketed some parts of the Midwest with more than a foot of snow and more was on the way Saturday, creating hazardous travel conditions and flight delays. (Michael P. King/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)
Cars are covered by snow in rental car parking lot at O’Hare International Airport, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, in Chicago. The first significant snowstorm of the season blanketed some parts of the Midwest with more than a foot of snow and more was on the way Saturday, creating hazardous travel conditions and flight delays. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
A car moves slowly on the road during a snowstorm, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, in Northbrook, Ill. The first significant snowstorm of the season blanketed some parts of the Midwest with more than a foot of snow and more was on the way Saturday, creating hazardous travel conditions and flight delays. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The Minister in the Prime Minister Department (Law and Parliamentary Affairs), YB Dato’ Seri Nazri Aziz made that statement at the parliament yesterday.
He said that Malaysia has never been declared a secular nation despite having secular laws.
“Under the Federal Constitution, there is no mention of the word secular in it,” he said when replying a question raised John Fernandez (DAP-Seremban) at the parliament on Monday.
Referring to Article 3 (1) of the Federal Constitution, Nazri also said that the position of Islam as a federal religion was also noted in several provisions under the Constitution which included the development and spread of Islam amongst the Muslim community and that civil courts have no jurisdiction over the powers of the Syariah courts.
“There is also the oath taken by the Agong under Schedule Four to preserve Islam at all times,” he added.
Based on Article 162 of the Constitution,Nazri noted the 1988 Supreme Court’s decision in Che Omar did not declare the country as a secular nation although secular laws were used.
He also noted the words used in context of Article 162 referred to laws that were passed prior to Independence and were stated as ‘existing laws’ rather than ‘secular laws’.