79 MPs voice support for Maria Chin over jail sentence by Syariah Court
• UPDATED 10:15PM | There is a new list with 79 MPs voicing support for Maria Chin, up from 76 in an earlier list.
A group of 79 lawmakers today expressed their support for fellow MP Maria Chin Abdullah, who was recently sentenced to jail by the Kuala Lumpur Syariah High Court after she criticised the same court over the jailing of a prominent businessperson's ex-wife in a custodial case in 2019.
In a statement, the opposition MPs across parties raised their concern over Syariah judge Mohamed Fouzi Mokhtar's decision to sentence Maria to seven days in jail for her statement, which they described as...
• UPDATED 10:15PM | There is a new list with 79 MPs voicing support for Maria Chin, up from 76 in an earlier list.
A group of 79 lawmakers today expressed their support for fellow MP Maria Chin Abdullah, who was recently sentenced to jail by the Kuala Lumpur Syariah High Court after she criticised the same court over the jailing of a prominent businessperson's ex-wife in a custodial case in 2019.
In a statement, the opposition MPs across parties raised their concern over Syariah judge Mohamed Fouzi Mokhtar's decision to sentence Maria to seven days in jail for her statement, which they described as "shocking".
"While we respect the decision by the Syariah court, any system of law, civil or Syariah, should be open to criticisms raising what are seen as institutionalised problems. Individual judgments are also matters of public interest and can be commented on by anyone in accordance with constitutionally guaranteed rights of freedom of expression.
"Especially a person like Maria who has public duties as a member of Parliament. Her comments were not scurrilous or malicious. They were clearly done in good faith with the view that the Syariah legal system and other bodies would address them.
"Judges are by no means immune to public criticism and accountability to those they serve in order to place confidence in the judiciary," the statement said.
Among the MPs who signed the statement are Pakatan Harapan leaders Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Mohamad Sabu, Saifuddin Nasution, Lim Kit Siang, Gobind Singh Deo, and leaders of other parties such as Muda's Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Pejuang's Mukhriz Mahathir, and Warisan's Darell Leiking.
In 2019, Maria issued a public statement regarding the court's custodial penalty meted out to Emilia Hanafi, who is the former wife of Naza group chairperson SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin.
Emilia, 42, was given the sentence by the Syariah court for rescheduling visitation dates for her children to be with their father.
The ruling prompted criticism from Maria, who said that Muslim women were still being discriminated against under the Syariah legal system.
Following this, SM Faisal's lawyers then went to the Syariah court to initiate contempt proceedings against Maria. The court found her guilty on April 25 and sentenced the Petaling Jaya MP to a seven-day jail term.
In their statement, the MPs pointed out that Maria raised the question of the disproportionate custodial sentence inflicted on Emilia just because she changed a visitation date, for which she had given a notice to her ex-husband.
"She also raised the issue of discrimination in the Syariah system against the women as in her 30 years of activism she had witnessed many cases where many divorced Muslim women struggled to find justice," they said.
The MPs also questioned the judge's jail sentence against Maria as it was done in her absence.
"The fact she was sentenced to a custodial punishment in her absence is wrong and, we are advised, contradicts existing legal provisions on sentencing.
"We are glad to know that a stay of execution pending her appeal is in place. We will stand by YB Maria in her exercise of her right of freedom of expression in raising matters of clear public interest albeit critical of the Syariah judicial system just as we would even if the civil system was the subject matter," the statement said.
The full list of signatories is as follows:
1. Anwar Ibrahim, Port Dickson
2. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Pandan
3. Mohamad Sabu, Kota Raja
4. Anthony Loke, Seremban
5. Darell Leiking, Penampang
6. Mukhriz Mahathir, Jerlun
7. Wilfred Madius Tangau, Tuaran
8. Syed Saddiq, Muar
9. Saifuddin Nasution, Kulim Bandar Baharu
10. Nurul Izzah, Permatang Pauh
11. Salahuddin Ayub, Pulai
12. Amiruddin Hamzah, Kubang Pasu
13. Lim Guan Eng, Bagan
14. Sivarasa Rasiah, Sungai Buloh
15. Lim Kit Siang, Iskandar Puteri
16. Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, Ledang
17. Noor Amin Ahmad, Kangar
18. Wong Chen, Subang
19. Chan Ming Kai, Alor Setar
20. Natrah Ismail, Sekijang
21. Hassan Abdul Karim, Pasir Gudang
22. Fuziah Salleh, Kuantan
23. Abdullah Sani, Kapar
24. Maszlee Malik, Simpang Renggam
25. S. Kesavan, Sungai Siput
26. Chang Lih Kang, Tanjung Malim
27. Bakthiar bin Wan Chik, Balik Pulau
28. Azman Ismail, Kuala Kedah
29. Sim Tze Tsin, Bayan Baru
30. Karuppaiya Mutusami, Padang Serai
31. Fahmi Fadzil, Lembah Pantai
32. Nik Nazmi, Setiawangsa
33. Akmal Nasir, Johor Bahru
34. Charles Santiago, Klang
35. Wong Hon Wai, Bukit Bendera
36. Kasthuri Patto, Batu Kawan
37. Pang Hok Liong, Labis
38. Mohd Hatta Md Ramli, Lumut
39. Thomas Su, Kampar
40. Ong Kian Ming, Bangi
41. Teo Nie Ching, Kulai
42. Kelvin Yii, Bandar Kuching
43. Alice Lau, Lanang
44. Wong Kah Woh, Ipoh Timor
45. Hannah Yeoh, Segambut
46. Chan Foong Hin, Kota Kinabalu
47. Wong Ling Biu, Sarikei
48. Lim Lip Eng, Kepong
49. M.Kula Segaran, Ipoh Barat
50. Teh Kok Lim, Taiping
51. Teresa Kok, Seputeh
52. Oscar Ling, Sibu
53. Tan Kok Wai, Cheras
54. Khalid Abdul Samad, Shah Alam.
55. Tony Pua, Damansara
56. Sin Chee Keong, Bukit Mertajam
57. Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Parit Buntar
58. Ustaz Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus, Hulu Langat
59. Mahfuz Haji Omar, Pokok Sena
60. Mohamed Hanipa Maidin, Sepang
61. Hasan Bahrom, Tampin
62. Mohd Anuar bin Mohd Tahir, Temerloh
63. Prabakaran, Batu
64. Chong Chieng Jen, Stampin
65. Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis, Kota Belud
66. Mohd Azis Bin Hj Jamman, Sepanggar
67. Rusnah Aluai, Tangga Batu
68. June Leow, Hulu Selangor
69. Nor Azrina Surip, Merbok
70. William Leong, Selayang
71. Nga Kor Ming, Teluk Intan
72. Tan Yee Kew, Wangsa Maju
73. Ngeh Koo Ham, Beruas
74. Cha Kee Chin, Rasah
75. Ma'mun bin Sulaiman, Kalabakan
76. Shamsul Iskandar, Hang Tuah Jaya
77. Gobind Singh Deo, Puchong
78. Rozman Isli, Labuan
79. Khoo Poay Tiong, Kota Melaka
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