The article entitled ‘Confusion on Hadi’s bill explained in Article 74' was written for the sole purpose to show that any attempt to implement hudud to all Malaysians will never see the light of day. There is a constitutional guarantee. People may make attempts, but it will never come to fruition because of the Federal Constitution.

People may have many reasons in their attempt to introduce hudud, be it personal, political, ideological, etc, however; that is all it will remain, an attempt.

Politicians know it very well. Ministers know it very well. So why this confusion from those in MAC and MIC and the like? That was the question.

Is it a drama or a show? Is it an attempt to divert attention from other current issues? It is a way to divide and conquer? These are the questions that non-Muslims should be asking themselves.

As a non-Muslim, ask yourself this question: to date, has any non-Muslim been subject to any Syariah court proceedings?

As a result of this ‘drama’ by the ruling government, a lot of resentment has been surfacing.

If non-Muslims are not satisfied with the current policies and laws passed by the government, then they should just not vote for them in the future. If non-Muslims do not like the way the enforcement agencies are behaving and how the government is keeping quiet about it, then they should just not vote for them in the future.

But non-Muslims should not close their minds to the supreme law of the land that is there to protect them; the Federal Constitution and they should not be under this continuous illusion or fear that one day they might be subject to Syariah Court Court proceedings. That will never happen.

Instead, non-Muslims should engage in talks or dialogues with Muslims and inform them of their rights as well under the Federal Constitution as citizens of Malaysia, and discuss what laws a state assembly can pass and what laws it cannot. Not get into an argument on what is hudud and whether it is good or bad. That is a religious matter.

When all citizens know what laws a state legislative assembly can pass and what laws it cannot, then, whether you are a Muslim or a non-Muslim, citizens must raise this with their respective state assemblypersons if a state law is in breach of the Federal Constitution.

If the government is keeping quiet about a state law that is being sought to be passed that is in violation of the Federal Constitution, then, whether you are a Muslim or a non-Muslim, citizens must raise this with their respective parliamentarians and ask them to stop it. If they do not hear you, vote them out.

You must know your rights

But, to do all these, as citizens, Muslims or non-Muslims, you must know your rights under the Federal Constitution.

So, for that, go get yourself a copy of the Federal Constitution.

So, it is pertinent for all of us to educate one another on the rights under the Federal Constitution, irrelevant if you are a Muslim or a non-Muslim. If this attempt to debate this Hudud Bill in Parliament is, as we can see, in clear violation of the Federal Constitution, then voice it out to your Member of Parliament.

As for queries on hypothetical scenarios such as if a non-Muslim becomes a victim of a Muslim aggressor, which court will the case go goes to or what will be his punishment (under civil or hudud?) and what if there is not enough evidence if charged in syariah court, well, there is a very simple answer. If you are a non-Muslim, and you are a victim of, say assault, by a Muslim, will you firstly call the police , or call the state Islamic religious department?

PUTHAN PERUMAL is an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya.