Call to review Shariah law misguided
Dr Sheik Johari Bux Sheik Yaacob Bux Mar 31, 05 2:56pm The Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF) regrets the use of the jargon 'moral policing' in the present campaign to seek a repeal of the Shariah enactment deemed in contradiction to international norms of human rights. We view this as an underhanded attempt - even before fair debate begins - to cast in a very negative light those who support the present administration of Islamic affairs based on the constitutional provisions. We acknowledge that recent incidents that highlighted the unprofessional conduct on the part of religious enforcement officers - such as the Jawi raid - deserve public scrutiny. It has to be admitted that some parties have been denied justice because of human weaknesses either in the formulation or the implementation of some aspects of the Shariah enactment. However, instead of calling for a review or fine-tuning the substance of the individual enactment concerned and rectifying the weaknesses in enforcement, such incidents have been opportunistically and grossly manipulated to force-feed secularisation to the Muslim community. The signatories of the 'anti-moral policing' document need to recognise that the very foundation of the Penal Code itself is the preservation of morality. Decency laws exist even in the most liberal of societies. The campaign to repeal state and municipal bylaws (which for Muslims are the Shariah enactments) on the argument that it overlaps the Penal Code, is misguided. >From London and New York to Manila and Tokyo, decency laws under the purview of municipal authorities exist alongside a penal code. In Malaysia, just because it happens to be based on Islamic teachings, it is seen as unfashionable and anti-modern. But this concerns only Muslims and it is improper and insensitive for non-Muslims to interfere. Understandably, there would be sections within the Muslim community who may find the Shariah rulings too restrictive or embarrassing for their Western, secular sensibilities. But this is strictly an internal problem normal to any religious community, and best resolved intra-faithfully. We regret that a few Muslims, anxious to be decorated as champions of progressive, liberal Islam, have turned these normal internal differences into national issues by seeking the support of those outside the faith who share the common desire for a complete secularisation of society and to force religion and spirituality into the private domain. We would urge our Muslim co-signatories of the 'repeal Shariah laws' document to resolve these intra-faith matters through discussions and consultations with mainstream Muslim groups and the relevant authorities. In any case, these are relatively minor issues in comparison to the daunting problems which are afflicting our society notably a culture of permissiveness and promiscuity, endemic corruption, poverty, a widening income gap, unbalanced development, rape of the environment, the urban-rural divide, and alarming escalation in heinous crime and the perpetual drug abuse menace. In our joint pursuit of truth, justice and fair-play, we should not allow parochial and careless sentiments to jeopardise our time-tested national religious harmony, tolerance and mutual respect. The writer is a board member of the Muslim Professionals Forum. www.mpf.org.my ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Would you Help a Child in need? It is easier than you think. Click Here to meet a Child you can help. http://us.click.yahoo.com/0Z9NuA/I_qJAA/i1hLAA/TXWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------------------------------------------------------- All views expressed herein belong to the individuals concerned and do not in any way reflect the official views of Hidayahnet unless sanctioned or approved otherwise. If your mailbox clogged with mails from Hidayahnet, you may wish to get a daily digest of emails by logging-on to http://www.yahoogroups.com to change your mail delivery settings or email the moderators at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the title "change to daily digest". Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hidayahnet/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
