KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 — Top PAS strategist Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (picture) described the recent Syariah caning of three women for illicit sex as politically-motivated, cautioned his party against being baited in the issue by rival Umno.
The Kuala Selangor MP said Islam true teachings meant a system of justice and fairness for all without cruelty and corruption, adding those caught for any offence must be able to exhaust all avenues before getting punished.
“It is obvious the canings are politically motivated. PAS and Pakatan must not allow itself to take the bait,” Dzulkefly said in a statement released in the PAS party organ website Harakahdaily when commenting on the caning.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein announced on Wednesday that three Muslim women found guilty of engaging in illicit sex had been caned under the Syariah law — the first time women in the country have been punished this way.
The caning at 10am on Feb 9 was carried out the Kajang Prison where two of the women were given six strokes of the rotan, while the third was hit four times. The minister did not specifically say their partners were caned but added four men also received the punishment.
Dzulkefly noted that Malaysia has parallel legal systems — civil and Syariah, which he said stressed on open and fair trials to prevent mistakes in carrying out punishments.
“Currently, the civil courts are more established but while PAS supports the further development of the Syariah courts, the most important thing is that at the end of the day, Malaysia is governed by law and order.
“As a responsible Islamic party, PAS is not only committed to Pakatan but to the true teachings of Islam. And true teachings of Islam means a system of justice and fairness for all, without the cruelty and corruption, the cronyism and abuse of power, the looting of the country’s coffers and the abandonment of ethics and principles that are now the signature of the current administration,” he added.
Dzulkefly said PAS and its coalition partners in the Pakatan Rakyat must ensure that all forms of crime and corruption should be eliminated apart from social ills.
“The issue of PAS competing with Umno on Islamisation does not arise for such matters as long as the main issues of faith and governance are not addressed,” he added.
MCA Political Education Bureau chairman Gan Ping Sieu said while it accepted Syariah laws are personal laws and syariah jurisdiction applies to Muslims only, “its application should in no event contravene the Federal Constitution”.
“MCA laments the speedy and stealthy manner of the caning cases by the relevant law enforcement authority has conveyed a distasteful impression of our criminal justice system.
“MCA maintains its position that supremacy of the Federal Constitution whereupon Article 8 reads that there should be no discrimination on the basis of gender therefore equality for all, including equality towards Muslim women must be upheld,” Gan added.
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