Johor Baru Umno Youth and Wanita Umno today lodged a report against the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) for interfering in the caning sentence on part-time model Kartika Sari Dewi Sukarno.

They want the organisation investigated under the Sedition Act for that interference.

Johor Baru Umno Youth chief Khalid Mohamed and Wanita Umno chief Salmah Saffar made the report at the Central police station here at 1.40pm.

jag sis kartika caning review 300909 poster Salmah said the police report was made because of JAG's intention to get an order for suspension, amendment or revocation of the caning sentence imposed on Kartika Sari Dewi by the Syariah Court as it was dangerous and challenged the position of Islam as the official religion of the country.

"JAG's demand also does not respect the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Malay rulers as the heads of Islam in the country besides provoking the emotions of Muslims and therefore leading to religious conflict that may rock the communal harmony in this country," she said after making the report.

Salmah said JAG had no right to question the decision of Kartika Sari Dewi and her family to accept the sentence given that Kartika Sari Dewi herself was willing to be caned.

Khalid said his movement viewed JAG's action seriously and hoped the investigation could be done swiftly.

Kedah MB : Don't interfere

NONE Kartika Sari Dewi, 32, was fined RM5,000 and sentenced to be caned six times by the Syariah High Court in Kuantan on July 20 after admitting to drinking alcohol in Cherating, Pahang on July 11, 2008.

The caning was recently postponed to respect the month of Ramadan.

JAG recently characterised the caning sentence as cruel, violated international human rights and humiliated a person and called on the government to abolish the Syariah criminal laws enforced in the states.

In ALOR SETAR, Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak said there was no reason for any quarter to question the implementation of Syariah laws in the country given that Islam was the official religion and that those laws had long been used.

"Why question existing laws? (They) Just want to get publicity, wasting time, causing heart ache and creating an unstable situation," he told reporters today.

- Bernama