KOTA KINABALU: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Vice President David Ong urged Sabah State Mufti Datuk Bungus Aziz Jaafar to clarify his remarks on the support of public caning of Syariah offenders.
Sabah State Mufti Datuk Bungsu has recently voiced support for public caning of Syariah offenders, referencing its implementation in Terengganu, where an offender received six strokes.
He also mentioned that similar punishments have previously been carried out in Tawau.
Datuk Bungsu further stated that in Sabah, people believe if something is hidden or kept secret, no one will know about it, and it will not serve as a deterrent—claiming this as a reason why punishments need to be carried out in public.
“I urge Datuk Bungsu to clarify whether these remarks represent his personal perspective or his official stance as the Sabah State Mufti.
This clarification is essential as it directly influences public policy and interfaith harmony in our diverse state,” he said in a statement today.
David said, implementing such punishments requires a thoughtful balance between our constitutional framework and Sabah’s multicultural identity.
“While the Syariah Court Act 1965 (Act 355) allows for whipping as a form of punishment, it does not envisage the punishment being carried out publicly.
Public caning not only contradicts the rule of law, the Federal Constitution, and universally recognized human rights standards but also undermines the dignity and rehabilitation of the offender.
The idea that public punishment works as a deterrent outdated and not substantiated,” he said.
David said, there are more humane and effective ways to deter crime, such as rehabilitation programs, education, and community involvement.
These methods tackle the root causes of criminal behaviour instead of simply punishing offenders, which often doesn’t solve the underlying issues.
When there is a conflict between Syariah law and the Federal Constitution, the Federal Constitution must take priority. It is the supreme law of the land and ensure fairness, justice and equality for all Malaysians,” he said.
David said, Malaysia also needs to respect International human rights standards. Public canning violates human right and dignity.
“The focus should be on upholding these values rather than resorting to punitive measures that can be seen as barbaric or inhuman.
I also fully support the Malaysian Bar’s call for the total abolition of corporal punishment in Malaysia, as this would promote a more humane and equitable legal system,” he added.
