YOURSAY | 'Burning hell-money is a cultural practice. It does not affect everyone.’

PAS: We don't stop hell-money burning, so why stop hudud?

David Dass: If burning fake money at Taoist funerals or cremating bodies creates an environmental hazard, then enact laws to address the problem. Cremation occurs in many advanced countries with much higher environmental standards than Malaysia.

This is not simply a question of allowing Muslims to live in accordance with Islamic law. There are many interpretations of that law and Umno has chosen the way it would go in 1957.

It is not possible to have separate forms of punishment for perpetrators of the same crime, simply because they have different religions. In the long run, it will lead to intolerable tensions.

And there will be intense pressure for the same punishment to be imposed on all. At that point, the arguments will be different. It will be on the unfairness of it all. Also punishment for apostasy will create tension.

It will make us like Pakistan and other countries, where so much hatred is engendered by such laws. We cannot legislate religious belief. It is like legislating how one should think and feel.

Freedom of conscience and worship is a universally recognised human right. There are many non-Muslims who embrace Islam for convenience, as when they marry. Sometimes when the marriage fails, they may want to revert back to their previous religion. And there could be other equally compelling circumstances.

Why imprison someone who does not believe? Do not enhance the punishment. Let the status quo remain.

My comments are not made to disrespect Islam but to ask all to respect our constitution and the factors that were taken into account when it was agreed upon. Sabah and Sarawak came into Malaysia on a promise that we would remain a secular nation.

We cannot change the basic structure of our country now. The implications will be severe. For a start, more people will emigrate. And the religious police will interfere more intrusively in the lives of our people.

ConstitutionIsSupreme: Yes, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, today you are right to say that the amendments are only valid for those offences provided for, with respect to syariah enactments at the state level, which do not include rape and theft.

But how about later when a state government amends the offences provided for in the respective syariah enactments to include rape and theft?

Wouldn't this become instant state law as this Hadi's Bill, if passed, would give the power to the state to add any punishment without having to first get approval from Parliament?

Alicescat: Burning hell-money is a cultural practice. It does not affect everyone. except the practitioners. Hudud is law. It affects every aspect of our lives, including that of non-Muslims.

Myop101: Did burning hell money or carrying out cremations call for the setting up of two separate criminal laws code? No.

Hence with that alone, your argument, Tuan Ibrahim, is irrelevant in justifying implementation of hudud.

Please remind yourself that freedom to practice one's beliefs should not encroach on other rights set out in the constitution, such as the right to a just and fair trial.

Oscar Kilo: Is there any guarantee that hudud will never be forced on non-Muslims? As it is, we already see too many problems involving non-Muslims and syariah courts, such as unilateral conversion of minors to Islam, disputes over a deceased person's religion, etc.

It is therefore understandable that non-Muslims are worried that the jurisdiction of hudud will gradually creep wider and wider, and eventually subject non-Muslims to hudud and syariah laws.

Hang Tuah PJ: Tuan Ibrahim, there are also Muslims who do not want hudud to be implemented. It is also the right of these Muslims to practise their religion as they deem fit.

Anyway, can you guarantee that it will never affect non-Muslims? Guarantee it through amendments in the Federal Constitution, and then we can talk.

RCZ: Crime is governed by the government and there is one penal code for all. It is provided and protected by the Federal Constitution.

You cannot have two standards for the same citizens according to your religion, as religion is personal and you can practice it how you want to, but also in accordance with the laws of the country. If the law bans cremation, then it won't be done.

And we haven't heard your comments on equality for all under the Federal Constitution. Or maybe Tuan Ibrahim, you think the constitution is not for Muslims?

If that's the case, there will be chaos. Go read world history.

Jamil J: I think it is fair to let only the Muslims discuss and debate what they want on this. We already have a dual legal system for the same offence (drinking alcohol, sex outside marriage) with syariah courts, so the argument that we can't have two legal systems is false.

Let democracy run its course.

SteveOh: PAS is confused. Burning hell-money is a religious practice that does not require the constitution to change. The hudud bill does. And worse, it forces itself on Muslims that do not support it.

So whither their freedom of religion? Are they not Muslims too? PAS is playing politics and misleading the public.

Hudud will affect Muslims who want it, Muslims who don't want it, and non-Muslims, period.

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