PM: Corporal punishment must be the last resort

(The Star) KUALA LUMPUR: Corporal punishment should be the last resort in the enforcement of Syariah laws against women, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

The Prime Minister said it should be based on compassion, mercy and tarbiyah or education purposes.

“Islam is a religion of compassion and mercy. It is not about corporal punishment. That is the last resort.

“That’s how it should be practised. We must not go overboard,” he said at the national Women’s Day celebration at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, last night. Najib also said Islam practised fairness, justice, mercy, compassion and provided a sense of opportunity for one to redeem and correct oneself.

“That’s more important than punishment. Hopefully, the right people will hear what I say,” he said, adding that women should not be victimised in the enforcement of Syariah laws.

Najib also announced the National Women Policy 2009 which emphasised on a conducive environment to ensure active and effective women’s participation as well as gender equality.

Earlier in Putrajaya, Najib said Kartika could still appeal against the Pahang Syariah Court’s decision to whip her.

She should not resign to the fact that such a sentence had been meted out on her,” he said. “I feel that she should not be too quick in accepting the fact that she has been punished.

“Actually there is still an avenue for her to appeal. The authority concern is always sensitive and considerate,” he told reporters after chairing the National Finance Council yesterday.

On July 20, the Pahang Syariah High Court had fined Kartika RM5,000 and ordered her to be given six strokes of the rotan after she pleaded guilty to drinking beer at a hotel in Cherating last year.

The 32-year-old part-time model was to be caned on Monday but religious authorities decided to defer the sentence in view of Ramadan.