Interfaith council: It’s about the constitution, not religion

 

The interfaith council’s president, Tan Hoe Chieow, says the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts Act should not be misrepresented as a religious issue. (UTAR pic)

PETALING JAYA: An interfaith council of non-Muslim religions, defending its stance about proposed amendments to the criminal jurisdiction of shariah courts, says its recent remarks were purely on constitutional matters and did not relate to the religion of Islam.

“We have the highest respect for Islam. Thus, please do not turn a purely constitutional issue into a religious matter,” said Tan Hoe Chieow, president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.

Tan contended that the proposed amendments would result in a dual system of criminal law being established between the civil courts and the shariah courts, thereby contradicting both the Federal Constitution and the rights of non-Muslims.

“It is also against the constitutional framework and basic structure of the constitution,” he told FMT.

Tan’s comments were in response to remarks by PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan who, earlier today, had questioned the interfaith council’s motive for saying the proposed shariah courts amendments were unconstitutional.

The council had said in a statement on Tuesday that granting enhanced sentencing powers to the shariah courts would allow hudud-related offences such as theft, robbery, adultery, sodomy and intoxication to be adjudicated under Islamic criminal law.

The group said such criminal offences are already part of federal powers listed in the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution. The additional powers provided in the proposed amendments would then be rendered unconstitutional, the council said.

Section 4 of the Ninth Schedule states that the federal government has power to legislate on civil and criminal law and procedure and the administration of justice, including the constitution and organisation of all courts other than shariah courts, and on the jurisdiction and powers of all such courts.

Selangor PAS calls for police probe

Separately, Selangor PAS has called for a police investigation of the interfaith council for allegedly inflaming sentiments of sensitive 3R (race, religion and royalty) issues by stepping over the boundary of religious diversity and harmony.

Zurk Ahmad, information chief of Selangor PAS, said the efforts on the shariah courts’ criminal jurisdiction had been carried out in accordance with the law. - FMT