SHAH ALAM, 7 May: The former Perlis Mufti, Prof Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, suggested for the Kelantan Government to update the provisions of law contained in the Syariah Criminal Enactment 1993 so that it is fairer to all.
In a discourse organised by the Karangkraf Group, ‘Hudud: Are we ready?’, he said that the implementation of Hudud law must be done without personal interests, and in a conducive environment.
Taking cue from the story of the implementation of Hudud during Prophet Muhammad’s time, he explained that the Prophet himself did not compromise to carry out Hudud on his daughter, Siti Fatimah, if she had stolen, as stated in the Hadith.
“When Prophet Muhammad cut off the hand (of thieves) (he) amputated it without any self-interest.
“Hudud cannot be carried out because the people are not same, where there are people who can and cannot be taken to court.
“Let it be the same (enforcement), from the palace to the house of the poor,” Mohd Asri, better known as Dr Maza, said.
He stressed as Muslims, Muslims cannot dispute Hudud law in the Al-Quran, but the question on how it is carried out.
This is because he is worried that the social climate will change if justice cannot be carried out as best possible and non-Muslims shy away from Islam.
Hence, he said, the Kelantan PAS Government should sit back and talk about this matter so that it can be executed well.
He added that the Zakat institutions in the country should be strengthened to help the poor so that the distribution of Zakat funds, which has reached RM1 billion across the country, can be enjoyed justly and fairly.
