(Petaling Jaya, Wednesday): The PAS Terengganu government should not proceed
with its Syariah Criminal Enactment Bill until it has been given approval by the
Barisan Alternative Presidential Council.
PAS leaders have
agreed when the DAP was in the Barisan Alternative that the Terengannu PAS State
government would fully consult with the other Barisan Alternative parties in
connection with controversial
legislation and measures, and the proposed Terengganu Syariah Criminal Laws (hudud
and qisas) clearly comes under this category.
The DAP is gravely concerned about the
Terengganu Syariah Criminal Enactment Bill as it violates
human rights and discriminates against
women This grave concern has been
compounded by the stand of Persatuan
Ulama Malaysia (PUM) and 12 other Muslim NGOs that support for the Terengganu
Bill is in line with the “929 Declaration” by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Dr. Mahathir Mohamad at the Gerakan national assembly on September 29 last year
that Malaysia is an Islamic state. (Malaysiakini 11.6.2002)
Before the PAS Terengganu government presents
the bill to the Terengganu State Assembly, it should
not only consult with and get the approval of the BA Presidential
Council, it should also seek the widest consultation of public views, in
particular with regard to sections 8 and 9
where a woman who reports that she
has been raped will be charged with qazaf (slanderous accusation) and flogged 80
lashes if she is unable to prove the rape; section 22 concerning death and
confiscation of all property for apostasy; section 43 denying women and
non-Muslims from being witnesses and section 48(2) providing that an unmarried
woman who is pregnant is assumed to have committed zina, even if she is raped.
The refusal of the Terengganu State Government
to refer the Syariah Criminal Enactment Bill to the Attorney-General though it
clearly contravenes the Malaysian Constitution, especially with regard to the
constitutional limits of “3-5-6” restricting
state syariah laws from imposing
sentences exceeding three years’ jail, RM5,000 fine or six strokes of the
rotan, raises the question whether this has the approval of the Barisan
Alternative Presidential Council.
(12/6/2002)