‘Shariah courts don’t handle thefts, robberies or murders’
Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia professor says those who question the proposed amendments should re-examine where the supposed conflict lay with the Federal Constitution.
PUTRAJAYA: The shariah courts should be given their due rights and responsibilities in performing their duties, said Principal Fellow of the Islamic Law and Politics Research Centre at the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) Assoc Prof Dr Shamrahayu Ab Aziz.
She said the tabling of the private member’s bill seeking to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) in Parliament last week, did not in the least interfere with the jurisdiction of the civil courts.
Rather, it was to enhance the shariah courts.
According to her, if there were certain parties which questioned the proposed amendments, they should re-examine where the supposed conflict lay with the Federal Constitution.
“This is because the shariah courts do not handle cases related to theft, robbery or murder,” she told reporters after presenting a working paper titled “Moderation and the Constitution of Malaysia, A View” at the Prime Minister’s Department here today.
Dr Shamrahayu said Muslims should be given the right to freedom of religion, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, as long as there were no conflicts of interest.
Thus the proposed amendments should not be turned into a polemic, she added.
She said opposition from non-Muslim politicians on the proposed amendments should be addressed by improving their understanding of the concept of celebrating diversity, as enshrined in the Constitution.
Shamrahayu also highlighted the fact that this was not the first time a bill pertaining to the shariah court’s jurisdiction was tabled.
“When it was introduced in 1965, it received a lot of support and during the first amendment in 1984, there were no such protests as opposed to today.
“In 1965, the (maximum) fine was RM1,000, and only after 20 years was it amended to RM3,000.
“But the question of amending the law did not arise, as it did not change any of the offences, but only increased the punishment, and it does not affect non-Muslims.”
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– BERNAMA