KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will not implement public caning for Muslims, says Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif.
The state minister in charge of religion and education said a recent statement by Sabah Mufti Datuk Bungsu Aziz Jaafar that the latter supported public caning was his personal view and not a stand of the state government.
Bugsu had, among others, said that he supported public caning because it is done according to the Islamic terms and laws.
“I wish to stress that Bungsu’s statement is his own personal view and does not represent the stand of the state,” said Arifin.
“It is also to be stressed that the existing caning methods for “Takzir” offences remain,” he said, adding that Takzir are discretionary punishments.
He said Sabah will not follow Terengganu in its decision to implement public caning on the basis that Sabah is a multi racial and unique state.
“Racial and religious harmony, tolerance and understanding is the crux of Sabah’s peaceful and harmonious living,” Arifin said.
He said Sabah holds on to the "Fiqh Sabahi" principle, which was also introduced by the Sabah Mufti, which incorporates wisdom and rationale in fostering relations with this multi-racial and multi-religious community.
He hopes this matter will not be politicised or become a topic of debate for anyone or any parties, fearing it would cause a less-harmonious environment.
The Terengganu government conducted its first public caning involving a man convicted by the syariah court for khalwat or close proximity in late December.
This drew criticism from various groups, including the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), which accused the Terengganu shariah court of overstepping its jurisdiction.
