Wanita MCA: Public caning of two women against Federal Constitution

PETALING JAYA: The public caning of two women by the Terengganu Syariah High Court violates the Federal Constitution, says Wanita MCA chairman Datuk Heng Seai Kie. 
 
“MCA has consistently raised concerns that the implementation of hudud enactments will encroach into the civil sphere and is thus unconstitutional. 
 
“This latest public caning and shaming in Terengganu under the PAS government is another example of unconstitutional punishments,” she said in a statement on Monday (Sept 3). 
 
She cited Section 289 of the Criminal Procedure Code as stating that women are exempted from public caning. 
 
Public caning is also unconstitutional as the punishment has to be carried out in prison and prison is a federal matter, she added. 
 
Heng called for action to be taken against the Terengganu Bar Committee chairman Sallehudin Harun whom she said supported the punishment. 
 
“I am sure the public expects him to ensure the laws are adhered to, and to condemn the enforcers where the law is violated. 
 
“More so, as Bar Council is often viewed as standing up for human rights, the public expects the Terengganu chapter to also uphold women’s dignity and the law.
 
“Wanita MCA does not support, much less promote the LGBT lifestyle, but neither do we support witch hunting, snoop squads out to bust into people’s personal space and public stigmatisation,” she said.  
 
Earlier, on Monday (Sept 3), two women who pleaded guilty to attempting to have same-sex relations were caned six times at the Terengganu Syariah High Court. 
 
The sentence was conducted behind closed doors in the courtroom after it was read out by Syariah High Court Judge Kamalruazmi Ismail.