UK-based rights group Article 19 has hit out at de facto Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri over the latter's criticism of a journalist's tweets directed at him.
"Singling out individual journalists creates a chilling effect and this might trigger trolling and online abuse.
"People in power should act differently," said Article 19 on Twitter.
Article 19's areas of interest include media freedom and freedom of expression. The group was responding to online portal Malay Mail assistant editor Zurairi Abdul Rahman's series of tweets directed towards Zulkifli (above).
"Dear @drzul_albakri pls stop harassing journalists on Twitter. This is not how a minister behaves. Thank you," said Zurairi.
Zulkifli had tweeted in response to Zurairi's initial tweets that highlighted excerpts from his winding-up speech in the Dewan Rakyat earlier today on the status of proposed amendments to the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, also known as Act 355.
Malay Mail quoted Zulkifli as expressing hope that the proposed amendments, including raising the penalties imposed, will be passed in his lifetime.
"The controversial Bill to enact harsher punishments for Shariah criminal offences was a hot button topic prior to #GE14 & after PH took power, but clamour has died down now," Zurairi said in sharing the article.
"It’s not 'harsher', my brother. Mind your words," replied Zulkifli, who also insisted that his remarks were directly targeted at Zurairi, and not at all journalists.
"I don't harass anyone. It is just you who are using the wrong word on clarifying RUU355.
"When I remind you, I really mean you, not other journalists [...] TQVM," the minister said.
The proposed Act 355 Bill, among others, seeks to raise the Shariah courts’ maximum sentencing limits to 30 years' jail, RM100,000 fine, and 100 strokes of the cane.
The current limits are three years’ jail, RM5,000 fine, and six strokes.
To critics who urged the minister to explain how Zurairi had inaccurately described the proposed increased penalties as "harsher" punishments, Zulkifli cited a 2016 52-page article which he wrote as the Federal Territories mufti.
"Read from the beginning.
"It's worth for you to understand this issue profoundly. God bless you," he said in response to @juanajaafar who tweeted to defend Zurairi.
It was previously reported that amendments to Act 355 still appears to be far off, after more than three years since PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang tabled a private member's bill to enhance the law.
In a written parliamentary reply dated July 22, de facto Deputy Islamic Affairs Minister Ahmad Marzuk Shaary said the government is always open to proposals to improve laws from any quarter.
In April 2017, the BN-administration allowed Hadi, who is Marang MP, to table a private members' bill seeking the amendment of Act 355.
However, the Dewan Rakyat sitting was postponed and the bill was never debated. - Mkini
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