SUPP hails move to amend Sarawak's syariah court ordinance

SUPP secretary-general Sebastian Ting has praised the recent proposal by Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg to amend the Syariah Court Ordinance 2001. 

“This is indeed a welcoming and bold move by our chief minister to get things going for the four converts,” he told Malaysiakini when contacted today.

Ting said to choose one’s religion is one of the major guarantees in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and this is “clearly stated” in the constitution as well, and all parties must respect it.

“SUPP has all along been with the chief minister to get back the autonomy of Sarawak.

“We want nothing more, nothing less but everything that was supposed to be ours as per the MA63.

“For Sarawak, it is our duty as lawmakers to make sure that there are no administrative obstacles that could deny their freedom,” he added.

He also said the recent ruling by the Federal Court that the Sarawak Syariah Court had the jurisdiction on matters of apostasy need to be respected by everyone. 

The apex court highlighted although no such provision existed in the Syariah Court Ordinance 2001, there were provisions in the Majlis Islam Sarawak Ordinance 2001, which could be used by the syariah courts.

Ting, who is a lawyer, also pointed out that this seems to imply that since the syariah court has the power to declare someone a Muslim or not, it is also logical that it would have the power to decide on matters pertaining to apostasy cases.

“Therefore, the announcement by the chief minister to propose amendments to the Sarawak's Syariah Court Ordinance 2001 by inserting specific provisions to make it easier and avoid confusion for Muslims to leave Islam based on their own free will is most welcomed.

“This is proof of the chief minister’s commitment to defend the freedom of religion in Sarawak that we have been enjoying all these years, even before the formation of Malaysia. Indeed a religion is basically a relationship between a person and God. It’s me and my God,” he added.

Ting also explained that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations recognises that everyone has the right to freedom of religion including the freedom to change his religion and freedom to manifest his religion accordingly in practice and also in observance.

This, he added, was further reinforced by Article 11 of the Federal Constitution whereby it protects everyone’s rights to profess and practice his religion of choice.

“In Sarawak, we must indeed be united to protect and promote religious harmony at all costs,” he added.

Abang Johari, in a statement on Saturday stressed that as the Federal Court had already given its decision on the matter, further action had to be taken while Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also home minister, said in Kuching on Sunday that he will leave the matter to be resolved by the state government. -Mkini

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