SERI SETIA POLLS | PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has accused cabinet of commenting on the Terengganu caning case to distract from Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s acquittal.
"Sometimes, they exaggerate the issues, for instance the incident in Terengganu, as an attempt to cover (Finance Minister) Lim Guan Eng's case, which is more serious than the trivial issue in Terengganu.
"The cabinet should not have issued a statement to criticise the laws and the punishment," he told a 500 crowd at the ceramah in Seri Setia last night.
"This is being disrespectful to the decision of the Syariah Court," said Tuan Ibrahim, who is Kubang Kerian MP.
He was commenting on two court cases in the spotlight this week: Lim’s acquitted by the Penang High Court on Monday and Terengganu Syariah Court’s public caning of the two women over a sex offence.
The punishment meted out by the Syariah Court was guided by the relevant laws approved by Parliament, he added.
"The victims did not appeal the punishment despite being able to do so in 14 days. They wanted the punishment to be carried out so that Allah can forgive them," he said.
"What is important is we do not question the existing laws. If all parties rise to question the regulations, why should we have these laws when we don't even respect them?" he said.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the administration opined that the women were first-time offenders and therefore should have been advised by the authorities, rather than be subjected to corporal punishment.
Media reports of the caning drew criticism from various quarters including politicians and rights groups, which deemed flogging as a form of torture, and which was "cruel and degrading".
The state government, however, has defended the act and said it was meant to educate the public and not hurt the women.
The women, aged 22 and 32, were caught by Islamic law enforcement officers in April attempting sex in a car.
They were fined RM3,300 each by the Syariah Court and sentenced to six strokes of the cane after pleading guilty. - Mkini
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