Sabah mufti backs public caning for shariah offences

 

Sabah mufti Bungsu @ Aziz Jaafar said the public caning of a man in Terengganu for his third khalwat conviction aligned with the principles of Islamic law. (Website pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Sabah mufti Bungsu @ Aziz Jaafar has supported Terengganu’s public caning of a man for khalwat and urged all parties against politicising the issue.

Bungsu said the punishment aligned with the principles of Islamic law and was simply aimed at serving as a deterrent to other would-be offenders, The Borneo Post reported.

He also said public caning had already been carried out in Tawau, Sabah, in 2017. This involved a man and a woman who were caned six times for committing adultery, though at the court’s compound.

“In Sabah, people say if something is kept secret, no one will know about it, and it will not serve as a deterrent. That is one of the reasons why such punishments need to be carried out in public (for certain offences).

“However, this punishment is carried out under strict conditions. It cannot be recorded or made viral and can only be witnessed by certain individuals. This ensures that it aligns with the philosophy of shariah law.

“Every state has its own approach. If any state disagrees, it is beyond their jurisdiction to overturn another state’s (decision). We support this implementation as it complies with Islamic law,” he was quoted as saying.

Last week, PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin urged all states to follow Terengganu’s lead by introducing public caning “to uphold and honour Islamic law”.

Affendi Awang, 42, was caned six times in front of 90 witnesses at the Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Mosque in Kuala Terengganu following his third conviction for khalwat.

The public caning was criticised by groups such as the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, which accused the Terengganu shariah court of overstepping its jurisdiction. - FMT