‘DUE PROCESS IGNORED’

Anwar says Federal Govt in no position to change state Syariah laws

THE public caning of two women for attempting same-sex relations was a punishment that was meted out “without proper due process, understanding and show of compassion”, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

The PKR president said the sentence by the Kuala Terengganu Syariah High Court was not accepted by most Malaysians.

He, however, said the Federal Government was in no position to change Syariah laws in Terengganu as the laws were wholly under the state’s prerogative.

“What happened in Terengganu under Pas was under state laws, which (the Federal Government) is not in a position to influence or change.

“This is because the state’s Islamic laws are under state jurisdiction,” he said in Makati City, Philippines yesterday.

Anwar said this while he fielded a question on the caning which was done in front of 100 people.

He was asked what he planned to do to balance Malaysia’s civil and Syariah laws when he became prime minister.

A newsportal quoted him as saying that he believed the two women should have been given adequate explanation, exposure and education (on Islam) instead.

“Unless they did harm in terms of a public display of sexual acts. But this, again, relates to the earlier question about the narrow interpretation of religious laws which I don’t share.

“I am a practising Muslim, I don’t share that interpretation.”

On Syariah laws, Anwar said comments should be made carefully to avoid clashes among Muslim societies.

“We have to tread carefully (on the issue) because if you are careless in your comments, then you are deemed to be anti-Syariah and anti-Islam.

“They will use that to say that you are fundamentally secular and against Islam.

“That will lead to a new sort of battle within the Muslim societies.”

He affirmed he was not against Syariah laws, but on the other hand understood that Malaysia was a multi-religious and multicultural society.

He said what was more important about Syariah laws was the observance of higher objectives, like ensuring peace, security, justice, tolerance, education and understanding within society.

On Monday, the two women who pleaded guilty to attempting same-sex relations were given six strokes of the cane in the Kuala Terengganu Syariah High Court.

The sentence was carried out within the courtroom by a female caning officer in full view of the courtroom’s public gallery.