KUCHING: It is best that Malaysia maintains its ‘status quo’ on the current criminal justice system that is already established and accepted by all, said former PBB deputy information chief Dato Peter Minos.
He pointed out that the addition of another parallel criminal code such as hudud is not that necessary for the country especially if it is not fully accepted by Malaysians.
“We Malaysians are separated by race and religion, and there is no need to add artificial man-made divisions.
“Right now we cannot afford to go through any religious or racial controversy because we are grappling with bigger issues such as high and creeping cost of living, and wide rural-urban economic disparity and so on.
“Artificial man-made divisions in a multi-racial and multi-religious society make national unity very difficult, even impossible to achieve. In fact, if possible, there should not be any man-made division at all,” he said.
Minos said he fully agreed with the opinion raised by former Treasury secretary general Tan Sri Mohd Sheriff Mohd Kassim who warned that countries which have implemented the controversial Islamic penal law of hudud are either failing or have become failed states.
Mohd Sheriff, a member of the influential group of retired Malay senior civil servants dubbed as G25, was quoted in the Malay Mail as saying that Malaysia had enjoyed peace and stability thanks to the rule of law.
The G25 had also earlier released a statement warning that Malaysia risks losing its identity of religious moderation and multi-racism if PAS is allowed to introduce its brand of Islamic penal laws.
“For a very senior civil servant and a Muslim to have said those words, there is little that we can add, for he talked out of actual knowledge and experience,” said Minos.
“However, this is my opinion. One, our government will do very well in taking heed of what prominent Malaysians have said of hudud. Two, there should not be any such thing as some interfering in how others honour or practise their faiths, but all Malaysians must be aware and be very careful of how any aspect of any religion can and may adversely affect racial harmony and thus national peace and security as Tan Sri Mohd Sheriff had noted.”
He went on to say that differences arising from racial origin and religion must be smoothened and handled properly and wisely so that they do not cause any friction in society.
“Even in a homogeneous society of one race and one religion like Iraq and Syria, if the leaders do not think and act well, big problems would still arise and make people go after each others’ throats. This is unacceptable and intolerable and one we Malaysians must think about and take serious heed of,” he added.
He said here in Sarawak, the people and leaders are very sensible and reasonable on religious and racial issues because Sarawakians truly value and appreciate both religious and racial understanding and harmony.
“There is no such thing in Sarawak where some are being pressured or forced to do or be this or that, for Sarawakians truly believe in religious freedom. It should be the case for the whole lot of Malaysia,” Minos said.