Instead of obsessing over Muslim's private lives, the government should address the real social problems facing the community.
PETALING JAYA: Sisters in Islam (SIS) has opposed the government’s proposal to have a syariah police unit within the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), describing it as a waste of public funds, redundant and “obsessive”.
SIS’s program manager Suri Kempe when contacted said the group did not believe in a punitive approach to monitoring Muslims.
She said the setting up of such a unit could lead to further harassment, intimidation and moral policing of Muslims and the violation of their fundamental liberties as guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.
“Ostensibly, the “syariah police” is supposed to battle the spread of Shiite teachings (but) Jakim estimates syiahs number roughly 1,500 or 0.005 per cent of the population.
“How can this justify federal intervention when the states already have their own syariah enforcement officers to deal with offences under syariah laws?
“The Syariah Criminal Offences contain vaguely drafted “catch all” provisions which provide wide discretion for interpretation and abuse by enforcement officers.
“Religious raids have often led to the violation of personal dignity and privacy, and in some cases death.
“We have not read of any investigations carried out to hold these religious enforcement officers to account.
“It’s a waste of resources and tax payers money since the states already have their respective criminal enactments where the religious department are required to collaborate with the police when making any arrests,” she said.
She also added that if the authorities wanted Muslims in Malaysia to prosper, the government must address the real social problems facing the community such as poverty and corruption, instead of “obsessing” over Muslim’s private lives.
‘A good idea’
National Muslim Students Association vice president Mohd Syazwannuddin echoed similar views.
“Malaysia is a multi racial country, if the syariah police make a mistake by arresting non-Muslims, then this can backfire,” said Syazwannuddin.
The Malaysian Muslim Solidarity (ISMA) president Abdullah Zaik Abdullah Rahman however has welcomed the idea.
He said a syariah police unit would give the enforcement of syariah law and prosecution a better bite.
Abdullah also suggested that the government hired people with proper Islamic studies backgrounds to ensure the effectiveness and scope of the unit.
On Saturday, Jakim director-general Othman Mustafa said the setting up of a syariah police unit would be finalised soon.
He said Jakim, the Home Ministry and police would be meeting soon to discuss the matter.












