Dispelling the RUU355 strawmen, Part 1 – Malay Mail Online

FEBRUARY 19 This article was written from Kelantan, a few nights before the Himpunan 355 rally in support of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awangs private members Bill for harsher punishments by Shariah courts.

If party propaganda is to be believed, the rally is a much-anticipated major event, with several billboards advertising it erected across Kota Baru, calling Kelantan citizens to head down to the capital.

In fact, Sunday (today) has even been declared a holiday by the PAS state government so Kelantan folks can attend the rally supporting the party. This is in an action that comes close to either gross abuse of power, or just sheer narcissism.

But talk to the Kelantan grassroots and you find that some are not even aware what RUU355 means; the Malay acronym used for the Bill, named after Act 355 which it aims to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.

For some who claim to understand, know it by one point only: hudud, the controversial Islamic penal code that has become the elusive holy grail of the Islamist party.

There has been no proper survey done on the Bill, but it is easy to imagine that knowledge and insight about what the Bill and the Act do is insufficient among Malaysians, even the Malay-Muslims. And part of this has been a result of its proponents deliberately out to obfuscate the public, in order to justify and garner support for the Bill to be passed.

Supporters of the Bill had mainly relied on strawmen arguments that are purposely neither right nor wrong, so critics found themselves tangled while trying to dismantle their arguments, instead of targeting the real issue:

1. Only the ignorant opposes RUU355

This argument is actually a mere insult directed at critics, by claiming that they do not understand the Bill put forward by Hadi, rather than a statement of fact.

By comparison, ignorance is rife on both sides. But activists who staunchly oppose RUU355 are arguably more informed about the Bill. There have been lawyers, journalists and civil liberties activists who have pored over the Bill ever since it was first tabled until it was finally amended on Umnos advice.

Staunch critics know exactly what they are talking about. They can even point out how Hadis Bill has been poorly written and how it could have been better drafted instead.

2. Non-Muslims should not oppose RUU355 as it does not affect them

This argument is used to present a narrative that only non-Muslims are opposing RUU355. Of course, this is not true.

Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awangs private members Bill is actually not well understood by its supporters. File PictureIn the lead-up to this week, we have seen many open letters and statements from those with Muslim backgrounds opposing the Bill, including G25 members Azimah Rahim and Mohd Sheriff Kassim. So are the activists who managed to temporarily block Hadis Bill from being tabled through the court.

It is true that by principle, Shariah laws, and RUU355 that bestows the power to Shariah courts, do not have jurisdiction over non-Muslims. But we all know in reality this sadly does not work this way.

In just the past year we have seen how Islamic laws have indirectly and directly impacted the lives of non-Muslims. Islamic regulations had affected non-religious businesses like the Ninja Joe pork burger and McDonalds birthday cake fiascos.

Shariah laws also claim jurisdiction over a Muslim, even when he has renounced the religion, as he is viewed an apostate a Shariah offence that can be punishable by death in some states. Thankfully, this cannot yet be implemented.

But the truth is, there is no way that Shariah laws will not affect non-Muslims. Because we live in the same society, not in silos. What affects one part of the society would inevitably affect the other.

The only way Shariah laws will not indirectly affect non-Muslims is when the two demographics are segregated. The way things are going, this might happen in some degree if we do not resist.

3. RUU355 is not about hudud

In part, this is true. After all, the Act is not about implementing hudud. The word hudud is not even mentioned anywhere near the Bill.

But this was not true prior to 2016. Even in 2014, PAS and a bipartisan technical committee discussing how hudud can be implemented in Malaysia consistently argued that Act 355 is one of its stumbling blocks.

After all, the Shariah courts can only sentence offenders with fines, prison and lashes. It cannot deliver brutal hudud punishments such as stoning, crucifixion, amputation, and death; or the eye for an eye punishments under qisas until Act 355 is amended to allow them to do so.

It was only after Hadi was allowed to table the Bill, with endorsement from Umno ministers, that any mention of hudud magically disappeared. Suddenly, it was all about upgrading the Shariah courts.

Despite that, even Hadis Bill cannot allow all hudud punishments to be implemented. His previous Bill did not allow death sentences. The current Bill fixed by Umno still does not allow stoning and amputation.

But, it still allows some hudud punishments. Illicit sex among unmarried couples can be punished by 100 lashes if Hadis Bill goes through, up from for example the current maximum of three-year jail, RM5,000 fine or six strokes of the rotan under Section 11 of Kelantans Syariah Criminal Code 1985.

Drinking alcohol can be punished by 80 lashes, instead of the same set of maximum punishments, under Section 25.

But that is not the point: Hadis Bill, if passed, would increase the punishment cap to maximum 30 years imprisonment, RM100,000 fine and 100 lashes of the cane. And this can be applicable to a lot of Shariah offences that ultimately are victimless crimes, not to mention discriminatory.

Shariah offences in many states do not only penalise a person for being a transgender, eating during Ramadan, skipping Friday prayers, indecent acts, but also insulting Islam, teaching without credentials, and criticising and insulting the religious enforcers themselves.

Go through every offence in each state, and you will start questioning whether many are even fit for the 21st century.

To be continued in Part 2 next week.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.

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Dispelling the RUU355 strawmen, Part 1 - Malay Mail Online