Wednesday August 26, 2009
Shahrizat lauds decision to defer caning
KUALA LUMPUR: The Pahang Syariah Appeal Court’s decision to defer part-time model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno’s sentence is a positive move, according to Women, Family and Community Develop-ment Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
“A lot of people have negative things to say about it but I want to commend the steps taken by the court,” she said.
Speaking at a press conference here yesterday, Shahrizat said she was relieved with the court’s decision as many Malaysians, including herself, was of the opinion that the sentence was rather “extreme.”
“The issue has attracted the attention of several parties, especially the foreign media, and there is a perception that the administration of the Syariah laws is cruel, especially to women,” Shahrizat, who is also Wanita Umno chief, said.
Meanwhile in Ipoh, Kartika said she was adamant about getting herself whipped as punishment for consuming beer in public.
“The moment the judge passed the sentence that I was guilty, I was prepared to be whipped,” she told reporters at her home in Kampung Jawang near Kuala Kangsar yesterday.
“Even now, my view has not changed.”
She said she respected Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s opinion that she should appeal, but she was firm on her decision.
“If they say that my sentence will be carried out after Ramadan, then so be it. However, the Pahang Reli-gious Department has yet to contact me to tell me personally that my punishment has been deferred,” she said.
Kartika later admitted that she felt insulted by the department’s decision to punish her only to defer it.
“I just want everything to return to normal. The trial had been too much for me to bear. I was forced to leave my children behind in Singa-pore and commute back and forth to attend court hearings,” she said, adding that she also quit her job as a result of the pressure.
Her father Shukarnor Abdul Muta-lib said Kartika was not in the right frame of mind currently.
“She is confused. All she does is cry and keeps repeating that she wants to be whipped,” he said.
However, he said, it was up to her whether or not to appeal against the sentence.
“All I am concerned about is that she should strictly follow the law but it seems that the Syariah law is not uniform in the country.”
Shukarnor said he and his daughter had earlier sought the advice and views of Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria at the latter’s office here yesterday afternoon.
“The mufti has agreed to speak to his counterpart in Pahang,” he added.
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