More likely than ever Malaysia going to break apart
After hudud, Sabah, Sarawak may seek referendum for independence, ex-IGP warns | Malaysia | Malay Mail Online
The implementation of hudud may lead Sabah and Sarawak to conduct a referendum for independence as the states had never agreed to the Islamic penal code before forming Malaysia, a former national police chief said, citing the Scottish independence referendum last year as an example.
Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Noor told Umno-linked daily Utusan Malaysia in an interview that some leaders from the east Malaysian states had even — during negotiations before Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore formed Malaysia in 1963 — opposed to placing Islam as the religion of the federation in the Federal Constitution.
“Sincerely, I say that we should not forget that the debate during Scotland’s independence referendum may also happen in our country because the relevant parties, for example Sabah and Sarawak residents, will question the things that were promised to them before the two states joined Malaysia,” Rahim was quoted saying in the interview published today.
“They were never promised the implementation of hudud. This issue involves religion. We should not forget that the majority of Bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak are Christians,” he added.
The Sabah Council of Churches said last month that PAS’s plans to enforce hudud in Kelantan amounts to a “betrayal” of Sabah’s trust when the state agreed to form Malaysia with Malaya and Sarawak.
Rahim also said implementing hudud contradicts Article 8 of the Federal Constitution that provides for equality before the law, noting that punishments for crime under the Islamic penal code like theft and robbery differ from punishments mandated in civil law.
“We know what the punishments are for theft under hudud and under the Penal Code. Muslims who steal will have their hand amputated, while their [non-Muslim] accomplice will only be fined or jailed for a few days,” the ex-IGP told Utusan.
“We can give other examples of crime in our country like rape... that involve Muslims and followers of other religions. We will definitely have a situation where the spirit of Article 8 of the Federal Constitution is violated,” he added.
