Police refuse to help enforce PAS' Islamic laws

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The police have refused to help PAS enforce Islamic criminal laws prescribing death by stoning and amputation in a state it rules, a report said today.

Police would not get involved with the implementation of syariah laws by PAS in Terengganu, Inspector General of Police Norian Mai told The Star daily.

The police force was governed by federal laws and could not be part of state-approved criminal legislation, he said.

"This is the position of the Royal Malaysian Police force," he said.

A circular has been sent to all district police stations in the state, directing them not to extend any form of cooperation to state religious officers, officials were quoted as saying.

The move came after the PAS-led state assembly in Terengganu approved a sharia criminal bill for errant Muslims and said it planned to eventually extend "God's laws" to non-Muslims.

Many experts say PAS has no right to impose criminal laws, which come under the federal government's jurisdiction, but the party insists these are religious matters which come under state purview.

The syariah bill still needs to be sent to the state ruler for endorsement before it becomes law.

Constitutional powers

However, the federal government could then still block the law under its constitutional powers.

PAS tried in 1993 to impose syariah criminal laws in neighbouring Kelantan, which it also controls, but the move was vetoed by the federal government.

The bill carries punishments such as stoning to death for adultery, amputation of limbs for theft, death for robbery, and 40-80 lashes of the whip for drinking alcohol.

For those renouncing Islam, offenders are given three days to repent, failing which the punishment is death and confiscation of property.

PAS secured strong Malay support in the 1999 general election but analysts say the tide has turned against the party, which wants to create a theocratic Islamic state, amid fears of Muslim extremism after last year's terror attacks on the United States. AFP



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