My Podium

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Syariah, Integrity & Ramadhan.

[1]

It is high time for us to revisit the practice of syariah law in this country. It was like we are standing with our pants down when we’re told that after decades of introduction, albeit with all its narrowness and limitations, there has actually no proper facility to carry out sentences passed out by Syariah Courts. The laws in which certain offenses are punishable by canning were enacted long ago, and we are now facing the hard realities that, in actual, there has not even a proper canning tools and place provided by any institution to carry out the syariah court judgment.

Apparently, the judge did not pass the sentences on Kartika alone for consuming alcohol in public. The whole Muslim community, deservedly though, were like being canned in public with this debacle. We are, in fact, being passed a sentence for a bigger sin, ignoring syariah and turning the syariah system into a mere joke.
 
I did not know for sure why Kartika is keen enough to be canned in public. But the way I see it, it was like the judge passing a sentence against Kartika for her offense, and then, Kartika subsequently passed us, all Muslims in Malaysia, with a more embarrassing sentence for ignoring the syariah justice system.
 
One might think that all these while, our syariah courts were passing sentences all in the hopes that the guilty parties would pay monies for their offenses. If the person does not have moneys, then the religious authorities need to ask prison authorities to take the offender on their behalf. It may come a time when the prison authorities would scoff the religious officers for sending too many offenders for “free-ride” at our prisons. Prison departments belong to Federal Governments and Syariah Courts belongs to the respective States Governments. Would the federal authorities tolerate this arrangement had the syariah offenders occupy big portion of the prison spaces and budget, as compared to their civil offenders? Could this also be the reason why one couldn’t see enthusiasm in enforcing syariah laws by the religious authorities – as they worry for having more offenders than they could handle. 

If that is truly the case, then we were the ones who put syariah practice into a bad joke. And, no one is laughing.

[2]

Politics without integrity has a name – it is called “rogue”. When BN fielded a candidate which carried serious integrity baggage for Permatang Pasir by-election, one wonders what kind of politics is at place in the ruling party.

BN source defended that Rohaizat had ensured things were all in order about his background before nomination day, but he failed to be clearly up front with his own party leaders. Rohaizat was a convict, albeit not legally, for misappropriating client’s money during his legal practices, and subsequently being disbarred.

If BN leaders are paying enough attention to the issue of integrity, they should have given the by-election a walkover and apologize to the voters of Permatang Pasir. That would be the only right thing to do if they hadn’t had any opportunity to switch for a better candidate.

Firstly, Rohaizat knew he had dark past which he thought could be easily side-stepped by putting the blame squarely on his former partner. This line of thinking is only logical if his former partner is already dead and no one else could come for his defense. With the guy still living proudly on this earth, no living man would voluntarily take such unnecessary assault on his good name. This showed Rohaizat’s severe inability to make sound judgment. 

“Thank God, he did not make it to be a legislature” – this remark should come from the BN leaders, and not from the ordinary people on the street. Sadly, the reality was starkly opposite. BN leaders defended the candidate which had lied to them about his past. Then, we see clearly how BN leaders throwing “integrity” into a waste bin.

Secondly, the failure of BN leaders to act rightly wouldn’t help them improve in the future. Many BN aspirants who dream to be a candidate would think they need not be clearly up front with their own party leaders. The party would still be behind them at all cost if they are declared a candidate, no matter what. Be honest, party leaders can’t be good enough to make background check if the person is trying his best to conceal his past. Only public scrutiny will do better when it is already too late.

Had BN leaders disowned Rohaizat, announced walkover, and apologized to the voters - that would certainly save the little remaining good name of the party. And, more importantly, it would send clear signal to own party members that they should never put their dark baggage for a free ride on the party.

[3]

It is Ramadhan again. This blessed month is a bounty in itself. The true meaning of Ramadhan doesn’t come in that month, but it will appear through one’s change for the better after Ramadhan. It is just like an education. The value of education is not when we are at university, but when we truly apply the knowledge in the real world for the betterment of humanity. Let’s graduate from Ramadhan with flying colors, only to be tested upon proving our taqwa. Ramadhan Kareem!