She was referring to PAS Supporters’ Wing (DHPP) chief N Balasubramaniam’s statement today that only criminals and gambling kingpins who were afraid of losing Muslim customers were afraid of the proposed amendments.
The proposed amendments were borne out of Abdul Hadi Awang’s private member’s bill and aim to increase the shariah courts’ punitive powers.
Siti, who is also Amanah Wanita chief, said those who make these type of statements have failed to take into account that any law can be misused.
“We should not be so simplistic about it and just like when we protest against other laws, we always feel that it can also be abused,” she told FMT.
“When the punishment is harsh and it is also being abused, that means some people are going to be victimised.”
The current law allows prison sentences of maximum three years, RM5,000 fine and six strokes of caning while the proposed amendments aim to raise the punishment to 30 years imprisonment, 100 strokes of the cane and RM100,000 fine.
Siti said the law could also be used against people who wanted to speak freely when they had differences in religious views.
“If you have differing views about a fatwa for instance, is it justifiable for you to imprison someone or lash someone just because that person has differing opinions from the mainstream?”
Siti also cited the recent case where a married couple were arrested by the Federal Territories Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) for khalwat (close proximity) at a budget hotel.
“I fear abuse and fear that the enforcement of the law will not be carried out efficiently. The embarrassment that the married couple had to go through are the kind of things that we are afraid will happen.”
On another note, Siti said she disagreed that harsher punishments will prevent people from committing the crimes as stipulated under Act 355.
“It will still happen and some of them argued that there are so many people born out of wedlock that this is important for our future. I don’t agree with that. I think that there are many more things that we can do to alleviate the moral and social problems of the Malay Muslims.”
Balasubramaniam’s statement was made at today’s RUU355 rally organised by PAS.