PAS tells hudud critics to respect democracy

(Malay Mail Online) – Critics of hudud law should respect the democratic process, PAS said after Kelantan passed amendments to the controversial Shariah Criminal Code II 1993 today.

PAS information chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar said the Islamist party and the PAS Kelantan state government have taken into consideration public opinion to protect the rights of non-Muslims by exempting non-Muslims from being tried under the Islamic penal code.

“Those who shout slogans about fighting for human rights and democracy should practise what they preach by becoming true fighters for democracy, instead of making democracy their exclusive right,” Mahfuz said in a statement.

“Other parties should respect the democratic process that is going on now,” added Mahfuz, who is also the PAS chief whip.

All 48 assemblymen in Kelantan voted unanimously to pass the hudud amendment bill.

PAS’ next move to is to table private member’s bills in Parliament to allow Kelantan to enforce the hudud enactment.

Kelantan Deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said last April that the first private members’ bill is to seek approval for the Shariah courts to try Muslims for crimes under the Penal Code, while the second bill is to amend the Shariah Courts (Criminal) Jurisdiction Act 1965 to enable Islamic courts to mete out the death penalty and amputations.

The Act limits the Shariah courts to jail sentences of not more than three years in jail, six strokes of whipping, and fines not exceeding RM5,000.

Mohd Amar stressed then that both bills did not seek to amend Malaysia’s Federal Constitution, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in the Dewan Rakyat before it can become legislation.

Among the amendments to Kelantan’s Shariah Criminal Code II 1993 are that the hudud enactment now only applies to Muslims, when previously non-Muslims could choose to be tried in Shariah courts.

“There are some parties which claim that the Shariah Criminal Code II is unconstitutional, although no Malaysian court has yet to declare that the enactment is void. The passing of the amendments in the Kelantan legislative assembly cannot be enforced until we get approval from the Malaysian Parliament,” said Mahfuz.

“PAS and the Kelantan government will follow whatever Parliament decides later,” the Pokok Sena MP added.