A group of 76 lawmakers today expressed their support for fellow MP Maria Chin Abdullah, who was recently sentenced to jail by the Kuala Lumpur Syariah High Court after she criticised the same court over the jailing of a prominent businessperson's ex-wife in a custodial case in 2019.
In a statement, the opposition MPs across parties raised their concern over Syariah judge Mohamed Fouzi Mokhtar's decision to sentence Maria to seven days in jail for her statement, which they described as "shocking".
"While we respect the decision by the Syariah court, any system of law, civil or Syariah, should be open to criticisms raising what are seen as institutionalised problems. Individual judgments are also matters of public interest and can be commented on by anyone in accordance with constitutionally guaranteed rights of freedom of expression.
"Especially a person like Maria who has public duties as a member of Parliament. Her comments were not scurrilous or malicious. They were clearly done in good faith with the view that the Syariah legal system and other bodies would address them.
"Judges are by no means immune to public criticism and accountability to those they serve in order to place confidence in the judiciary," the statement said.
Among the MPs who signed the statement are Pakatan Harapan leaders Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Mohamad Sabu, Saifuddin Nasution, Lim Kit Siang, Gobind Singh Deo, and leaders of other parties such as Muda's Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Pejuang's Mukhriz Mahathir, and Warisan's Darell Leiking.
In 2019, Maria issued a public statement regarding the court's custodial penalty meted out to Emilia Hanafi, who is the former wife of Naza group chairperson SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin.
Emilia, 42, was given the sentence by the Syariah court for rescheduling visitation dates for her children to be with their father.
The ruling prompted criticism from Maria, who said that Muslim women were still being discriminated against under the Syariah legal system.
Following this, SM Faisal's lawyers then went to the Syariah court to initiate contempt proceedings against Maria. The court found her guilty on April 25 and sentenced the Petaling Jaya MP to a seven-day jail term.
In their statement, the MPs pointed out that Maria raised the question of the disproportionate custodial sentence inflicted on Emilia just because she changed a visitation date, for which she had given a notice to her ex-husband.
"She also raised the issue of discrimination in the Syariah system against the women as in her 30 years of activism she had witnessed many cases where many divorced Muslim women struggled to find justice," they said.
The MPs also questioned the judge's jail sentence against Maria as it was done in her absence.
"The fact she was sentenced to a custodial punishment in her absence is wrong and, we are advised, contradicts existing legal provisions on sentencing.
"We are glad to know that a stay of execution pending her appeal is in place. We will stand by YB Maria in her exercise of her right of freedom of expression in raising matters of clear public interest albeit critical of the Syariah judicial system just as we would even if the civil system was the subject matter," the statement said.
The full list of signatories is as follows:
1. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Pandan
2. Mohamad Sabu, Kota Raja
3. Darell Leiking, Penampang
4. Saifuddin Nasution, Kulim Bandar Baharu
5. Nurul Izzah Anwar, Permatang Pauh
6. Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Muar
7. Salahuddin Ayub, Pulai
8. Mukhriz Mahathir, Jerlun
9. Amiruddin Hamzah, Kubang Pasu
10. Anthony Loke, Seremban
11. Lim Guan Eng, Bagan
12. Sivarasa Rasiah, Sungai Buloh
13. Lim Kit Siang, Iskandar Puteri
14. Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, Ledang
15. Noor Amin Ahmad, Kangar
16. Wong Chen, Subang
17. Chan Ming Kai, Alor Setar
18. Natrah Ismail, Sekijang
19. Hassan Abdul Karim, Pasir Gudang
20. Fuziah Salleh, Kuantan
21. Abdullah Sani, Kapar
22. Maszlee Malik, Simpang Renggam
23. S. Kesavan, Sungai Siput
24. Chang Lih Kang, Tanjung Malim
25. Bakthiar bin Wan Chik, Balik Pulau
26. Azman Ismail, Kuala Kedah
27. Sim Tze Tsin, Bayan Baru
28. Karuppaiya Mutusami, Padang Serai
29. Fahmi Fadzil, Lembah Pantai
30. Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Setiawangsa
31. Akmal Nasir, Johor Bahru
32. Charles Santiago, Klang
33. Wong Hon Wai, Bukit Bendera
34. Kasthuri Patto, Batu Kawan
35. Pang Hok Liong, Labis
36. Mohd Hatta Md Ramli, Lumut
37. Thomas Su, Kampar
38. Ong Kian Ming, Bangi
39. Teo Nie Ching, Kulai
40. Kelvin Yii, Bandar Kuching
41. Alice Lau, Lanang
42. Wong Kah Woh, Ipoh Timor
43. Hannah Yeoh, Segambut
44. Chan Foong Hin, Kota Kinabalu
45. Wong Ling Biu, Sarikei
46. Lim Lip Eng, Kepong
47. Wilfred Madius Tangau, Tuaran
48. M Kula Segaran, Ipoh Barat
49. Teh Kok Lim, Taiping
50. Teresa Kok, Seputeh
51. Oscar Ling, Sibu
52. Tan Kok Wai, Cheras
53. Khalid Abdul Samad, Shah Alam.
54. Tony Pua, Damansara
55. Sin Chee Keong, Bukit Mertajam
56. Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Parit Buntar
57. Ustaz Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus, Hulu Langat
58. Mahfuz Haji Omar, Pokok Sena
59. Mohamed Hanipa Maidin, Sepang
60. Hasan Bahrom, Tampin
61. Mohd Anuar bin Mohd Tahir, Temerloh
62. Prabakaran, Batu
63. Chong Chieng Jen, Stampin
64. Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis, Kota Belud
65. Mohd Azis Bin Hj Jamman, Sepanggar
66. Rusnah Aluai, Tangga Batu
67. June Leow, Hulu Selangor
68. Nor Azrina Surip, Merbok
69. William Leong, Selayang
70. Nga Kor Ming, Teluk Intan
71. Tan Yee Kew, Wangsa Maju
72. Ngeh Koo Ham, Beruas
73. Cha Kee Chin, Rasah
74. Ma'mun bin Sulaiman, Kalabakan
75. Shamsul Iskandar, Hang Tuah Jaya
76. Gobind Singh Deo, Puchong
- Mkini
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