Terengganu mulls syariah detention centre

KUALA TERENGGANU: The state government will consider a suggestion to build a dedicated detention centre for syariah offenders but it will not rush into any decision, said Mentri Besar Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.

“We are taking a serious look at it. We need to consider every aspect, including whether such a thing could come under our jurisdiction,” he said.

The suggestion to set up a syariah detention centre came from Syariah Judge Kamalruazmi Ismail on Oct 10 before he sentenced a 45-year-old woman to four strokes of the cane after she pleaded guilty to prostitution.

He also ordered her to undergo rehabilitation at the Baitul Ehsan women’s shelter in Sabak Bernam.

Kamalruazmi said the detention facility could help with spiritual rehabilitation and would separate syariah offenders from hardcore criminals at regular detention facilities.

Dr Ahmad Samsuri also told reporters after opening the National Sports Day event yesterday that Terengganu’s new guidelines for event organisers should not be an issue, “as any state or country would impose its own guidelines based on the sensitivities of the locals”.

Last week, the state tourism department released 11 guidelines for event organisers of stage shows in the state.

Among them are rules on gender segregation and no shows allowed from Thursday night until after Friday prayers.