Hudud: We did not sign up for this in 1957 – Sandra Rajoo

Time evolves in the most ironical of ways! From fighting for independence and democracy in the 1950s to fighting for hudud now. This is just one of the many incongruities we are seeing in our society today. We are tugged in directions we never thought we would go. We are supposed to be heading for developed country status in 2020 and now we are contemplating hudud and its medieval laws of punishment. How do we reconcile this? Time and time again authorities throw the 1Malaysia mantra at us yet allow the laws of the country to divide us.

We are all Malaysian citizens, so give us the space to express our concern and reservations about what is happening right now. Many Muslims and non-Muslims are uneasy and fearful, wondering if hudud is about to form the core of our existence in Malaysia. Kelantan is dead serious about going ahead with its hudud plan and, regrettably, the government is also seriously opening an avenue for it to proceed. Do not keep saying that non-Muslims are exempted because it will just be a matter of time before the inevitable happens. Look at Brunei. Karpal Singh is no longer here to defend those who oppose it, and this subject has taken on new dimensions and a disturbing direction. 

We peace–loving citizens have yet to see evidence of the peace, harmony and contentment touted to come from countries which practise hudud. In fact what we see now is the exact opposite. And, many have escaped from what they perceive as harsh and oppressive in such countries to settle in more developed countries. It is alarming that some people in Malaysia are eager for the implementation of hudud despite, I am certain, not fully understanding its implications on the ground. Just pointing to its positives without explaining what they entail won’t cut it if one cannot justify the laws’ supposedly fair and considerate execution with concrete evidence. Notwithstanding this is the fact that ordinary people are being kept in the dark about the full force of what these new laws mean. So much chatter but so little clarity.

As it is, we don’t even have enough leaders in government that we trust to lead with impartiality and integrity. And we have read reports on how some religious bodies behave, or misbehave. Will this situation deteriorate further and will our democratic and human rights be compromised with hudud? How sure are we that the type of justice we have now won’t be reduced to "an eye for an eye, or, a limb for a limb"?

Some scholars say that our constitution does not allow for hudud laws. If this is true then the federal government must put its foot down and stop all this. Allay people’s anxiety and apprehension. Why let this topic of discussion spiral out of control? And let us hear no more suggestion that people should leave the country if they don’t agree with something. Malaysia belongs to all of us and if something affects us then we are obliged, as responsible citizens, to give our views and people in authority cannot brush us aside.

* Sandra Rajoo reads The Malaysian Insider.