Prime Minister Najib Razak said today the federal government was leaving it to the Pahang government to implement the whipping sentence on part-time model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarnor, who was convicted of drinking alcohol in public by the Syariah Court.

NONE Speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting of Umno's supreme council in Kuala Lumpur, Najib, who is also Umno president, however, said this did not mean Umno was not concerned about the case.

"It's not that Umno is not concerned but syariah matters come under the respective states' jurisdiction," he said when asked about accusations hurled by the opposition that Umno seemed not to be concerned about the case.

Yesterday, Pahang Islamic Religious Department director Abdul Manan Abdul Rahman was reported to have said the department was ready to carry out the whipping sentence on Kartika after Aidilfitri but this would depend on a judicial review to be carried out by the Kuantan Syariah High Court.

Ong and Chua at Najib’s function

On July 20, Kartika, 32, was fined RM5,000 and ordered to be whipped six times by the Kuantan Syariah High Court after she pleaded guilty to consuming alcohol in public at a hotel in Cherating on July 11, 2008.

She was due to be whipped at the Kajang Women's prison last month but the punishment was deferred because of the Ramadan month and a backlash from the public.

After the supreme council meeting, Najib broke fast with about 1,000 Umno members at

Dewan Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre.

Also present were MCA president Ong Tee Keat and sacked MCA deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek.

- Bernama