'We'd love to see guilty politicians caned'

YOURSAY 'Why is it that only Johor is practising this form of syariah punishment? It would be better for the offenders to do community work.'

22 women caned for syariah offences in Johor

Chipmunk: What a contrast compared to what Johor was once known for under Sultan Abu Bakar, who turned Johor into a modern state. If the religious authorities think meting out a public canning is the solution, then I am afraid they have made a grave mistake.

Education is the key to understanding, but if they decide on public caning, I would say they are going back to Stone Age. Can they boldly stand up and say they have never committed any sin or at least lusted in secret?

Holden: Did the 22 men who participated in incest and sexual intercourse outside of wedlock get the same punishment?

Do the courts also mete out punishment to those who steal millions and billions from the public coffers, cheat, bribe and generally engage in corruption? Or do they look for the poorest and most vulnerable among us for such punishments?

Anak, Bangsa, Malaysia: Why is it that only Johor is practising this form of syariah punishment? It would be better for the offenders to do community work than to punish them in this form.

This is what is called Umno's way of governing this country. Punishment to be meted out in public or in mosques is backward.

I don't think this is Islamic in nature. The word means peace, but this is not showing peace but harshness, and such forms of punishment sow hatred towards the religion.

Any religion must show compassion and love, and not hatred and enmity.

Touche: This is inhumane. Talibanisation is secretly and insidiously encroaching and being implemented by Umno.

Arankanathan: And MCA told us that PAS would implement this kind of barbaric inhuman laws if Pakatan Rakyat came into power. Johor under Umno is already implementing such laws. What say you MCA, MIC?

Malaysia ABU: MCA, MIC and so on, do you have any comments? What we see here are syariah criminal laws, and hudud is just part of it. Actually, are these laws and jurisdiction consistent and allowed under the federal constitution?

Remember, all criminal offences and punishment must fall under the federal jurisprudence, and all persons must be equal under the laws, regardless of race, religion, gender and social status.

Anonymous 493: Ironical that this is happening in Johor, one of the many places MCA chief Chua Soi Lek was taking full-page advertisements before GE13, warning how PAS would implement hudud law and how horrible it would be.

Well, Umno has proven Chua wrong - MCA's bedmate is even worse than PAS. Indeed, Umno is the true religious extremist while PAS has displayed more moderation and wisdom and sincerity.

Truth Really Hurts: Vote BN, and you get the radical Umno version of hudud law, not the conservative PAS version. You get to enjoy who you vote for.

Abang Adek: World civilisation is moving forward, but Johor and Malaysia are going backwards into the Dark Ages. And administrators of Islam in Johor are proud of this? It's a weird way to view God's compassion and love.

Fairnsquare: I would recommend psychiatric evaluation, counselling, guidance and rehabilitation to resolve such cases of incest and sexual intercourse among unmarried couples.

Punishment so crude as caning reflects the mentality of the people who mete out these sorts of action.

Should people be guided through religious understanding to repent for such acts, or will they avoid such activities because of the fear of caning? The former is the correct way. Perhaps Sisters in Islam could take up the issue and bring about more effective and decent remedies.

Sgtdinoz: What about politicians who have abused the laws? What's the punishment for them?

WeAreOneVoice: The Taliban have landed in Malaysia? If the punishments are applied fairly, fair enough, as a lot of us would love to see guilty politicians being caned.

Whatsup: Why stop here? How about murder, corruption, telling blatant lies, stealing billions, hate-mongering, gangsterism, fabrication of evidence, racism, intimidation, brutalising of the rakyat, election fraud and cheating, phantom voters, vote-buying, and the list is endless.

So many murders are committed in lock-ups, even in the jungle, Mongolians get blown to smithereens, and what of the stone-throwing at opposition ceramahs, and so on. Why not a whimper from the religious authorities? Which religion condones such acts?

Independent: The punishments meted out are for sex offences and only affect the poor and down trodden. Malaysiakini should publish more about how the 'rich and decorated' rascals can escape the khalwat trap of the religious authorities.

The authorities should be fair to all offenders. If it is not done fairly, then Johor Islamic Affairs Department (JAIJ) senior assistant director of enforcement Mohd Zambri Kambari will have to face the punishment of God in the afterlife.

Being Human: There are two sets of law. The rich politicians and datuks who keep young girls and patronise expensive places don't get punished, but the poor ones who work in cafes or pubs get caught and fined.

Just go to any five-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur and see how many rich Malay businessmen go there with girls as young as their daughters. But the religious department doesn't even have the guts to question them.

2zzzxxx: Funny that corrupt politicians are not canned. I wonder how many strokes of the cane does Sarawak CM Abdul Taib Mahmud should get. - Malaysiakini