Malay DAP MP supports syariah law

MPs from opposition coalition do not see eye to eye on issues concerning syariah compliant laws in Malaysian.

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP’s Raub MP Ariff Sabri said today that he was in support of a PAS MP’s call to make future laws in Malaysia syariah compliant.

“As long as it is syariah compliant, we are all for it,” said Ariff, when met at the Parliament.

Yesterday, Temerloh MP Nasruddin Hassan Tantawi called for the government to ensure all future legislation in Malaysia to be syariah compliant; by getting religious scholars to give their views while drafting bills.

He argued that existing laws have failed to curb criminal activities in Malaysia and thus, it was fair for the government to to give syariah law a chance.

Ariff said he was in support of Nasruddin’s statement as Islamic laws, in general, call for the establishment of a government guided by the rule of law.

“So I think it should be alright and I don’t think its implementation will interfere with the rights of other citizens,” he said.

Fellow DAP MP Ong Kian Meng said that while it was within Nasruddin’s right to propose the idea, it would depend on Pakatan’s leadership to decide on the matter.

“Whatever it is, it needs to be decided at the leadership level. This needs consensus of all three parties,” said the Serdang MP.

However, Ong made it clear that DAP does not believe that syariah law was suitable to be implemented in the country.

“We respect PAS’ right but as far as DAP is concerned, the country is not suitable for the implementation of syariah law,” he said.

Syariah is wide in application

PKR MP Shamsul Iskandar Akin, on the other hand, said that Nasruddin must be clear on which aspect of the Islamic law was he talking about, as syariah is a wide subject.

“Nevertheless justice is a key theme is syariah. So if you give justice, then I’m in full support but we need to know which aspect first,” said the Bukit Katil MP.

Citing an example, Shamsul said the recent amendment to the Prevention of Crime Act to include detention without trial was not syariah compliant.

“It is not syariah compliant as it has detention without trial. You cannot give justice to a person by denying the individual the right to be heard.,” said the PKR youth leader.

Shamsul added that syariah laws are meant as a deterrent and only metes out punishment as last resort.

“As prevention, what we need is effective policing and good example shown by leaders. It’s because if you are a corrupt-free leader, then citizens will have interest to emulate the leader.

“In addition, we also need holistic education which go to all levels of society, not confined to schools alone,” he said.

The DAP and PAS, though are in the opposition coalition, have differed for long on syariah issues in the country.