76 MPs voice support for Maria Chin over jail sentence by Syariah court

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