PAS man slams emotional comments on hudud in social media
(The Malaysian Insider) – PAS national unity committee chairman Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa has expressed concern over reactions and comments on the recently amended Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code II Enactment 1993, especially those on social media sites.
He said ethics were not observed by most social media users when posting comments on the issue.
“They are not even experts and the way they write is riddled of emotions,” he said, citing the recent threats posted online against BFM business radio station journalist Aisyah Tajuddin as an example.
Following the passing of the bill by Kelantan legislative assembly to amend the enactment more than a week ago, the station uploaded the BFM Projek Dialog “BFMKupas” video clip, raising questions about hudud and comparing it with bread and butter issues.
The video, which has since been taken down, angered some Muslims and Aisyah, who presented the video, received rape and death threats from social media users.
“I am very disappointed with what had happened to the journalist. For example, I may not like her demeanour in the video but it is unjustifiable to threaten her with harm or have the guts to threaten to rape her.
“Come on, you are talking about a law that is considered sacred to all Muslims and yet while discussing it, you are threatening people.
“I think that is a total misrepresentation of Islam,” he said in a roundtable discussion with the media in Penang about hudud and recently amended Shariah Criminal Code II Enactment yesterday.
Police are now investigating three of the station’s employees, who were involved in the production of the video clip, under Section 298 of the Penal Code.
They are also being investigated by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) under Section 233 of the Communications & Multimedia Act.
Asked why he was criticising commentators, Mujahid said it was not up to the public to decide themselves what was a challenge against Islam and to take it upon themselves to prosecute others.
“That would be tantamount to giving in to emotions and things may get out of control,” he said, adding that those who committed any kind of offence should be reported and brought to justice.
Mujahid also said news organisations should also be responsible in its reports and not sensationalise the issue.
He cited how his recent statement, which stressed that discussions on the issue must be conducted with objectivity and not with emotions, was misreported by a Malay daily stating that he had criticised his own party.
Mujahid said the public needed to understand what the Shariah Criminal Code II Enactment was all about, as there had been misconceptions about the matter, including the use of the term “hudud” itself, because people could not get proper explanation.
Hudud was not the name of the law passed by Kelantan, he said, but the term is used to refer to the offences in the Islamic penal code.
