Dr Chandra: Parties that subscribe to hudud should not be empowered
(The Star) – The effect of hudud law on non-Muslims is very real, said speakers at a forum entitled Hudud: Its implications on non-Muslims in Malaysia’ here on Sunday.
International Movement for a Just World president Prof Dr Chandra Muzaffar said parties that subscribed to hudud should not be empowered.
He noted that most countries that have adopted hudud law had failed in protecting their people or their rights.
“Not a single hudud state can be an example to us human kind,” he said to during the session entitled Hudud and its legal implication on non-Muslims’, which was moderated by Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee.
The forum, which was organised by the Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research (Insap), was held at Wisma MCA.
Dr Chandra said non-Muslims would also suffer should PAS implement hudud laws.
“It does not recognise the principle of shared rights and responsibilities. They have the notion of protecting you but not according you your rights,” he added.
Dr Chandra hit out at PAS for its narrow interpretation of hudud in Kelantan and previously in Terengganu, which he said did not emphasise on forgiveness and reform as stated in the Quran.
“The emphasis should not be on prohibit and punish, as Islam is meant to educate and enlighten. A narrow interpretation can destroy a nation,” he added.
Another speaker, Ustaz Mohd Kamal Saidin, who is the religious adviser to the Terengganu Mentri Besar, criticised Kelantan’s hudud law guidebook.
He said that the enactment did not follow the proper Islamic hudud guidelines, including on sodomy, rape and the option for non-Muslims that he said was not true.
Ustaz Mohd Kamal also said that it would be unfair to implement hudud law on Muslims but not non-Muslims, and that this would also create confusion.
Lawyer Philip Koh said Malaysia was a secular country and anyone who wanted to change the laws should remember that it should not be restrictive or affect the rights of any one community.
He noted that every faith may have ideas as to how it wanted the laws to be framed to govern society but it should not impede on the rights of those from other faiths.
Koh said the Reid Commission, which was the base of which the Federal Constitution was formed, had clearly stated that Malaysia is a secular nation.
Economist Fui K.Soong said implementing hudud law in Malaysia would not be popular with foreign investors.
The Centre for Strategic Engagement (CENSE) chief executive officer said the dual judiciary systems under the hudud laws meant that businesses would also have to comply with Syariah requisitions.
“It is definitely going to have an impact on foreign direct investment,” said Fui.
She urged Malaysians to object to hudud law now rather than wait for it to happen.
