KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PAS Commissioner III Hamid Ismail has urged Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office, Datuk Arifin Arif, to ensure that work on a Syariah Court in Kota Kinabalu begins immediately.
“I have been made to understand that a five-acre site next to Masjid Bandaraya in Teluk Likas have been allocated. Yet, no works have been done yet.
“The current Syariah Court in Kota Kinabalu located in Sembulan is too old and inadequate. We need a Syariah Court building in the city,” said Hamid, adding that this was to ensure that Syariah Law in the state can be enforced more effectively.
Hamid also concurred with Arifin on the lack of competent manpower to ensure better enforcement of the law, when the latter brought the matter up during the launching the Dialog Kinabalu on Syariah Laws Enforcement and Prosecution Issues and Black Magic and Law Seminar on September 29.
“I agree with Arifin’s statement that there is an urgent need to increase the number of competent enforcement officers in their ranks to ensure the Muslim community abides by the Syariah laws at all times.
“I think the government must increase greatly the number of officers in the enforcement and prosecution units of Jabatan Hal Ehwal Islam Negeri Sabah (JHEINS),” said Hamid.
This, he added, is due to JHEINS, being the body that is responsible for matters relating to Islam in Sabah, not being able to perform its duties efficiently if it lacks manpower.
“It must be noted that Sections 48 to 104 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1995 cover a wide range of offences.
“For instance, failure to perform Friday prayers or pray five times a day, deriding verses of al-Quran and Hadith, contempt of religion of Islam, false worship, cohabitation of husband and wife of different religions, breach of betrothal, and abuse of the Halal sign. These are all under the jurisdiction of the said body.
“Hence, the lack of manpower will definitely impair the enforcement of the said enactment,” he added.
Hamid also commended Arifin’s statement that the Attorney-General’s Chamber is working to amend the existing Syariah Court Act 1965 (Amended 1984) so that the Syariah Court in the country could impose more severe sentences for Syariah offences.
“I think it is the appropriate time for such amendment to take place in view of the current situation.
“At the moment, the said Act limits the jurisdiction of the Syariah court in criminal matters to offences punishable to a maximum three years’ imprisonment or with a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or with whipping not exceeding six strokes or a combination of any of the mentioned.
“Though the amendment is late, it is better late than never,” he said.