BURY AZIZAH IN CHINESE CEMETERY – WHAT KIND OF POLITICS IS THIS? PAS SHOWS ITS ‘VILLAGE’ MENTALITY WITH HUDUD ‘BLACKMAIL’

Penang mufti Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor has criticised the act of labelling fellow Muslims who disagree with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s private member’s bill as infidels.

This was after Padang Serai PAS chief Shaharuddin Ibrahim in a sermon said opposition leader Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will have to be buried in a non-Muslim cemetery if she did not support the amendment to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, or Act 355.

“I am saddened there are certain religious leaders in the country who conveniently label other Muslims as infidels simply because of disagreements over the private member’s bill to strengthen the Syariah courts,” said Wan Salim in a statement today.

In the statement, disseminated by Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim), Wan Salim said while the matter was important, the proposed amendment has yet to be finalised and will only be tabled in Parliament by Abdul Hadi, who is also Marang MP, in October.

He said the legislature should be allowed to discuss the matter and formulate a law that is just to all citizens.

“We should not force any MP to accept the Act 355 amendment bill by all means including threats and supposedly their faith would be affected.

“It is compulsory for Muslims to accept Allah’s laws which are sacred but the Act 355 amendment bill is not Allah’s law.

“It may have weaknesses that needs to be improved before it becomes law,” he added.

At present, Act 355 limits the syariah court’s punishment to a maximum fine of RM5,000, three years’ jail or six strokes of the rotan.

Hadi’s amendments seek to remove this limit to pave way for the partial implementation of hudud in Kelantan, which already have state enactments for such punishments.

For example, the punishment using the rotan under the enactment ranges from 40 to 100 strokes.

In a video uploaded on Tuesday, Shaharuddin said Wan Azizah must support the Act 355 amendment when it comes to a vote in Parliament.

“If Kak Wan (Wan Azizah) does not raise her hand (in support), it could erode her faith.

“If she does not raise her hand and it is fated that she dies, we bury in a Chinese cemetery (Jirat),” he said.

Shaharuddin’s remarks also drew flak from Subang DAP Youth political education bureau director Farhan Hazir Mohamed.

Farhan pointed out that labelling a fellow Muslim as an infidel is an offence under Section 24 of the Kedah Syariah Criminal Procedure Enactment 1988.
“It is ironic that PAS, which wants to strengthen the Syariah courts, is committing a Syariah criminal offence by labelling others as infidels,” he said.

Farhan also criticised other PAS leaders for not speaking out against the sermon.

He urged Wan Azizah to take action against Shaharuddin under Syariah law.

“I respect PAS’ freedom to table the Act 355 amendment bill in Parliament and to promote it across the country.

“However, there has to be limits so as not to sully the good name of Islam with a holier than thou attitude,” he said.

– M’kini