(Petaling Jaya, Tuesday):
Hadi, as PAS Terengganu Mentri Besar, should withdraw the
controversial Terengganu Syariah Criminal Enactment Bill to underscore his
assurance that PAS under his leadership will pursue a moderate agenda.
A fortnight ago, I had emailed Hadi to withdraw the Bill as it was clearly against the Federal Constitution, violates human rights and discriminates against women.
I had said in my email to
Hadi that �to proceed with the Terengganu Syariah Criminal Enactment
Bill is to invite legal challenge to its legality and constitutionality�, and
this has been proven correct with the filing of a legal suit by a Kelantan UMNO
official to challenge the
constitutionality of the Bill.
In my email, I had also said that the Bill will fortify
public perceptions and convictions
that PAS policies are at loggerheads with the 1957 Merdeka Constitution, the
�social contract� and the 1963 Malaysia Agreement and incompatible with
pluralism, human rights, women�s rights, development and modernity.
DAP has made clear its grave concern and opposition to various provisions in the Bill, in particular with regard to sections 8 and 9 where a woman who reports that she has been raped will be charged with qazaf (slanderous accusation) and flogged 80 lashes if she is unable to prove the rape; section 22 concerning death and confiscation of all property for apostasy; section 43 denying women and non-Muslims from being witnesses; section 48(2) providing that an unmarried woman who is pregnant is assumed to have committed zina, even if she is raped; and the contravention of the the Federal law and Malaysian Constitution, especially with regard to the constitutional limits of �3-5-6� restricting state syariah laws from imposing sentences exceeding three years� jail, RM5,000 fine or six strokes of the rotan.
(25/6/2002)