The Federal Court’s decision to annul 16 provisions in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019 is being dangerously exploited by politicians.
Please, government and rulers, defuse the divisive rhetoric before things get worse in the nation.
The Pas secretary general openly took on the establishment by stating that the apex court’s ruling is a “dark day in history for Muslims“.
Takiyuddin Hassan may have also raised the fear level by claiming that the Federal Court’s annulment of the Sharia law enactment in Kelantan will affect other states too.
Politicians must be immediately stopped from undermining the justice system, which is the ‘central nervous system’ of any nation.
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The Pas secretary general even claimed that “defending shariah (law) means upholding the institution of the Malay rulers”.
His attempt to turn this issue into a Muslim-non-Muslim thing is an unnerving prospect. In a speech before over 1,000 supporters gathered outside the Palace of Justice, Takiyuddin said that the court decision should serve as a lesson for Muslims.
The Pas secretary general’s hope that all parties, including the government, will ensure that Islamic laws are upheld could result in many Muslims believing that the government and the rulers are not the true protectors, custodians and guardians of Islam.
By questioning and painting a certain perception of the civil court, he appeared to be dividing the Muslims along ideological lines. “Islam is the national religion,” he said, when, in reality, the Constitution states that Islam is the official religion of the federation.
His call to Muslims – “We as, Muslim citizens living in our country, must ensure that shariah laws are upheld” – is enough to ignite divisiveness in the country.
Worryingly, the joint chairman of Gerakan Selamat Syariah (the Save Sharia Movement), Zai Mustafa, reportely said the group would submit a memorandum to the Agong and the sultan of Selangor, the chairman of the national council for Islamic affairs.
Politicians, as well those aligned to political ideologies, must stop chipping away at our unique constitutional monarchy system.
Do not drag the rulers in, to further your political agendas, please. If this happens, the country will be ruined over time.
Opportunist political wannabees who think they can ride on this ‘civil vs Sharia’ tussle (the way Pas is making it out to be) should also be stopped in their tracks.
To claim that “even though Malaysia is no longer a colony, colonial laws still bind the country’s legislation” is also divisive. And to declare that “as long as we maintain colonial laws, Islamic legislation cannot be enforced” would nudge the nation into a tight corner.
A panel of nine judges, led by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, ruled 8-1 that the Kelantan state assembly had no power to approve the provisions in the enactment. This was because the offences were already covered under federal law.
Hopefully, the “Madani” (civil and compassionate) government will act decisively to prevent a further escalation of ethnic and relgious polarisation.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
