MEMORANDUM PENDIRIAN PEMIKIR ISLAM TERHADAP PANDANGAN 25 TOKOH MELAYU MENGENAI UNDANG-UNDANG SYARIAH
Kami bersetuju dengan pandangan yang disuarakan oleh 25 tokoh Melayu terkemuka tanah air bahawa jalan penyelesaian perlu dicari bagi menangani “pelbagai pertikaian yang berterusan mengenai kedudukan dan pelaksanaan perundangan Islam di negara ini.” [The Star, 8 December 2014: Need for a consultative process]
Pertikaian itu berpunca daripada ketegangan yang lahir daripada marginalisasi undang-undang dan pentadbiran Islam di dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan sebagai perkara Negeri yang mempunyai bidang kuasa yang sangat terbatas. Ia bercanggah dengan hasrat orang Islam, yang merupakan majoriti penduduk, untuk hidup di bawah undang-undang Syariah.
Dalam tinjauan Pew Research Center di seluruh dunia pada 2013, ia mendapati “peratusan besar Muslim di banyak negara mahu undang-undang Islam (syariah) dimaktubkan sebagai undang-undang rasmi di negara mereka tetapi cuma dilaksanakan ke atas penduduk Islam sahaja. 86% penduduk Muslim di Malaysia dan 72% di Indonesia yang ditemubual dalam tinjauan tersebut mahu undang-undang syariah dilaksanakan di negara mereka.
25 tokoh Melayu terkemuka di negara ini memperakui hasil penemuan Pew berkenaan apabila mereka menulis: “Sebagai orang Islam, kami mahu melaksanakan hukum Islam lebih daripada undang-undang sivil, demi memenuhi standard tertinggi kehakiman kerana ia mencerminkan keadilan Tuhan”.
Orang Islam percaya mereka dituntut untuk menjalani kehidupan mengikut ajaran yang ditetapkan oleh syariah; mengamalkan perkara yang baik dan menjauhkan perkara mungkar demi menegakkan keadilan. Lebih seribu tahun sebelum kedatangan kolonialisme Barat, undang-undang Syariah memainkan peranan penting dalam kehidupan orang Islam dan dalam pentadbiran negeri.
Kolonisasi masyarakat Islam oleh kuasa Barat membawa kepada peminggiran sistem perundangan Islam. Bidang kuasanya terbatas kepada isu-isu perundangan berhubung kekeluargaan dan hal-hal perkahwinan. Ia tidak mempunyai sebarang peranan dalam undang-undang awam, perdagangan, perniagaan, hubungan industri dan aktiviti lain yang penting kepada kehidupan manusia. Oleh itu, sukar bagi perundangan Islam untuk berkembang dalam usaha memenuhi cabaran kemodenan.
Berhubung kesan kolonialisme ke atas perkembangan undang-undang Syariah Islam di negeri-negeri Melayu, pakar pendidik British R.J. Wilkinson menulis: “Tidak diragui Undang-undang Islam akan menjadi undang-undang di Malaya jika undang-undang British tidak campur tangan untuk menghalangnya.”
Tidak ada negara yang boleh mengabaikan hasrat sebahagian besar rakyatnya tanpa kesan buruk terhadap kestabilan dan keamanan. Kita perlu mencari jalan untuk memenuhi tuntutan orang Islam terhadap pelaksanaan undang-undang Syariah dalam kerangka kerja perlembagaan yang demokrasi tanpa mencabuli hak-hak golongan rakyat minoriti.
Sehubungan itu, Kerajaan perlu menubuhkan satu jawatankuasa tertinggi untuk menyemak semula Perlembagaan Persekutuan kita dan menyarankan pindaan untuk memasukkan segala keperluan penduduk Islam serta menegakkan hak-hak golongan minoriti di negara ini. Perlembagaan bukanlah sesuatu yang tidak boleh diubah. Ia merupakan dokumen kehidupan dan perlu berkembang selaras dengan perubahan yang diinginkan oleh rakyat.
Jawatankuasa berkenaan perlu terdiri daripada pakar-pakar Islam dan bukan Islam mengenai undang-undang Perlembagaan, undang-undang Syariah Islam dan bidang-bidang lain yang berkaitan dengannya. Selain menyemak semula Perlembagaan Persekutuan, ia perlu mengetengahkan segala kelemahan yang ketara dalam sistem perundangan Syariah semasa dan mengemukakan saranan untuk menanganinya.
Kritikan yang ditujukan kepada undang-undang dan pentadbiran Islam oleh 25 tokoh Melayu terkemuka itu tidak banyak membantu dalam menganjurkan perbincangan dan perdebatan mengenai isu-isu terbabit kerana ia terlalu umum untuk diulas. Misalnya mereka mendakwa undang-undang Kesalahan Jenayah Syariah di Malaysia “adalah bercanggah dengan prinsip-prinsip perundangan Islam dan mencabuli hak-hak kebebasan yang penting..” Mereka tidak memberikan sebarang bukti untuk menyokong dakwaan tersebut. Dakwaan itu adalah serius kerana ia mencerminkan sejauh mana kecekapan kerajaan negeri, penasihat perundangan negeri dan Peguam Negara. Bagaimanakah mereka boleh meluluskan undang-undang yang bercanggah dengan prinsip-prinsip perundangan Islam?
Kami terharu dengan inisiatif yang ditunjukkan oleh pesara penjawat awam, hakim, diplomat dan kumpulan pejuang hak asasi wanita yang secara terbuka membuat dakwaan mengenai ketidakadilan dan kelemahan dalam undang-undang dan pentadbiran Islam di negara ini. Kami berharap mereka akan menunjukkan keprihatinan yang sama terhadap isu-isu lain yang sama pentingnya seperti jurang yang semakin melebar di antara golongan kaya dan miskin, kemusnahan alam sekitar, kemerosotan nilai-nilai moral dan etika, rasuah, penyalahgunaan kuasa dan isu-isu pentadbiran. Negara juga akan mendapat manfaat jika mereka sudi berkongsi pengetahuan, pengalaman, kepakaran dan masa mereka dengan pertubuhan masyarakat sivil demi menggalakkan keadilan, perlindungan alam sekitar dan penyatuan rakyat.
Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid , Presiden Majlis Perundingan Pertubuhan Islam Malaysian ( MAPIM )
Sohibus Samahah Tan Sri Dr Hj Harussani bin Hj Zakaria , Mufti Negeri Perak D.R
Sohibus Samahah Datuk Dr Wan Salim Mohd Nor , Mufti Negeri Pulau Penang
Dato’ Wan Mohamad Dato’ Syeikh Aziz , Mantan Ketua Pengarah Director , JAKIM
Datuk Syeikh Mohd Nor Mansur Al Hafiz , Mantan Pengarah Jabatan Agama Islam Negeri Perak
Datuk Dr. Hj Awang bin Sariyan , Ketua Pengarah , DBP
Prof. Dato’ Dr. Ir. Wan Ramli bin Wan Daud , Profesor Kejuruteraan Kimia UKM
Prof. Dr. Tengku Mohd bin Tengku Sembok , Sains Komputer Mantan Timbalan naib Canselor Universiti Pertahanan Malaysia
Prof Ismail Mohd, Profesor Matematik, UniMaP
Prof. Emer. Dr. Shaharir bin Mohammad Zain , Profesor of Matematik , Mantan Timbalan Nain Canselor UKM
Dato Hj Sulaiman Abdullah , Mantan Profesor Undang-undang UM
Datin Dr Mehrun Siraj , mantan Professor Undang-undang , Mantan Ahli Suruhanjaya SUHAKAM.
Prof Dr. Wan Mokhtar Wan Yusof , Profesor Mikrobilogi UKM
Prof Dr. Khairuddin Omar , Professor Sains Komputer UKM
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Aslam bin Mohamed Haneef , Profesor Ekonomi UIAM
Prof. Dr. Mohd Sahaid Khalil , Fakulti Kejuruteraan dan Senibina , UKM
Prof. Dr. Husna Azhari, Fakulti Kejuruteraan dan Senibina UKM
Prof. Dr . Mohd Nazari Ismail , Dekan Fakulti Perniagaan dan Akauan , U
Prof Dr. Khairudin Omar , Sains Komputer UKM
Prof. Madya Dr. Ahmad Shahbari @ Sobri b. Salamon , Pengerusi Penasihat Syariah , Bank Islam
Prof. Madya Dr. Aidil Abd Hamid , Microbiokemistri UKM
Prof. Madya Dr. Zaini Hamzah, Saintiss Nuklear , UiTM
Prof Madya Dr. Mat Rofa Ismail , Professor in Etnomatematik , UPM.
Dr. Mohammad Alinor Abdul Kadir, Pakar Matematik , Felo INSPEM,
Dr. Mohd Roslan Mohd Nor , Setiausha Agong Persatuan Ulama Malaysia , Timbalan Pengarah (Research & Development), Akademi Pengajian Islam University Malaya,
Dr Halim Muhammady , Naib Presiden WADAH , Pengarah Perunding Penyelidikan Bairuni , Mantan Ketua Jabatan Pengajian Quran , Fakulti Pengajian Islam UKM ,
Hj Ahmad Awang , Mantan Pengarah Pusat Islam , JPM .
Hj Abdul Ghani Samsudin , Pengerusi SHURA , Mantan Ketua Jabatan Sains Sosial , Fakulti Pendidikan , Universiti Malaya.
Dinsman ( Shamsuddin Osman ) , Presiden PAKSI
Datin Aminah Zakaria , Pengerusi SALIMAH , Mantan Pengetua Kolej Islam Klang ,
Ir Hj Asari Daud, Mantan Timbalan Pengarah JPS
Ir .Kassim Muhammad , Mantan Pengarah JPS , Negeri Perlis
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Letter to the Editor, STAR
BY MUSLIM SCHOLARS ON THE POSITION OF SYARIAH LAW IN RESPONSE TO THE 25 TOP MALAY FIGURES
15 th December 2014
We agree with the 25 top Malay figures that a solution must be found to “the continuing unresolved disputes on the position and application of Islamic laws in this country.” [The Star 8 December 2014: Need for a consultative process]
The disputes are rooted in the tension created by the marginalisation of Islamic Law and administration in the Federal Constitution as State matters with very limited jurisdiction which goes against the wishes of Muslims, who constitute the majority here, to live under Sharia law.
The 2013 worldwide survey by the Pew Research Center found that “overwhelming percentages of Muslims in many countries want Islamic law (sharia) to be the official law of the land” but applicable only to their country’s Muslim population. In Malaysia 86%, and Indonesia 72%, of Muslims participating in the survey favoured making Sharia the official law.
The top 25 Malay figures confirm the Pew survey finding when they write: “As Muslims, we want Islamic law, even more than civil law, to meet the highest standards of justice precisely because it claims to reflect divine justice.”
Muslims believe it is incumbent upon them to live according to the teachings of the Sharia; to enjoin the good and forbid evil and to promote justice. For over a thousand years, before the coming of Western colonialism, Sharia played a central role in the lives of Muslims and in state administration
The colonisation of Muslim societies by the Western powers led to the ossification of the Sharia judicial system. Its jurisdiction was confined largely to legal issues connected with family and marital matters. It had no role in public law, commerce, trade, industrial relations and other important areas of human activity. Hence, it was disabled by the colonial administration to grow and develop in order to meet the challenges of modernity.
On the impact of colonialism on the development of Islamic law in the Malay States, a British educationist R.J. Wilkinson wrote: “There can be no doubt the Muslim Law would have ended by becoming the law of Malaya had not British law stepped in to check it.”
No country can ignore the wishes of such large majorities without adverse consequences to stability and peace. We need to find ways to accommodate the Muslim need for Sharia within a democratic constitutional framework without impinging on the rights of minorities.
Therefore, the Government should set up a high-powered committee to review our Federal Constitution and to recommend amendments to incorporate the needs of the Muslims and entrench the rights of minorities. A constitution is not cast in stone as to be unchangeable. It is a living document and has to grow with the changing needs of our people.
The committee should consist of Muslim and non-Muslim experts on Constitutional law, Islamic law and other relevant fields. It should, in addition to reviewing the Federal Constitution, address the weaknesses in the current truncated Sharia judicial system and make recommendations to overcome them.
The criticisms aimed at Islamic law and administration by the 25 top Malay figures are not helpful in promoting discussion and debate on the issues as they are too general for comment. For example, they allege that Sharia Criminal Offences laws of Malaysia “are in conflict with Islamic legal principles and constitute a violation of fundamental liberties…” They have not provided any evidence to support their bare allegation. The charge is serious for it reflects on the competence of the state governments, state legal advisors and the Attorney General. How can they approve laws that are contrary to Islamic legal principles?
We are heartened by the initiative of retired senior civil servants, judge, diplomats and feminists to publicly address the alleged injustice and weakness in Islamic law and administration. We hope they will show similar concern on other issues such as the growing disparity between the rich and poor, the destruction of our environment, erosion of moral and ethical values, corruption, abuse of power and issues of governance. It will also be beneficial to the nation for them to share their knowledge, experience, expertise and time with civil society organisations to promote social-justice, environmental protection and national unity.
Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid , Presiden Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organization ( MAPIM )
Sohibus Samahah Tan Sri Dr Hj Harussani bin Hj Zakaria , Mufti of Perak
Sohibus Samahah Datuk Dr Wan Salim Mohd Nor , Mufti of Penang
Dato’ Wan Mohamad Dato’ Syeikh Aziz , Former Director General , JAKIM
Datuk Syeikh Mohd Nor Mansur Al Hafiz , Former Director of Islamic Department of Perak
Datuk Dr. Hj Awang bin Sariyan , Director General , DBP
Prof. Dato’ Dr. Ir. Wan Ramli bin Wan Daud , Professor of Chemical Engineering UKM
Prof. Dr. Tengku Mohd bin Tengku Sembok , Computer Science, Former Deputy Vice Chancellor Univ. Pertahanan Malaysia
Prof Ismail Mohd, Profesor Mathematics , UniMaP
Prof. Emer. Dr. Shaharir bin Mohammad Zain , Professor of Mathematics, Former Dep. Vice Chancellor UKM
Dato Hj Sulaiman Abdullah , Former Law Lecturer UM
Datin Dr Mehrun Siraj , Former Law Professor , Former Commissioner of SUHAKAM.
Prof Dr. Wan Mokhtar Wan Yusof , Professor of Microbiology UKM
Prof Dr. Khairuddin Omar , Professor of Computer Science UKM
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Aslam bin Mohamed Haneef , Professor of Economics UIAM
Prof. Dr. Mohd Sahaid Khalil , Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, UKM
Prof. Dr. Husna Azhari, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, UKM
Prof. Dr . Mohd Nazari Ismail , Dean Faculty of Business and Accounting ,University of Malaya
Prof Dr. Khairudin Omar , Computer Science , UKM
Prof. Madya Dr. Ahmad Shahbari @ Sobri b. Salamon , Chairman of Syariah Advisory Board , Bank Islam
Prof. Madya Dr. Aidil Abd Hamid , Microbiochemistry UKM
Prof. Madya Dr. Zaini Hamzah, Nuclear Scientist, UiTM
Prof Madya Dr. Mat Rofa Ismail , Professor in Etnomatematik , UPM.
Dr. Mohammad Alinor Abdul Kadir, Mathematician , Felo INSPEM,
Dr. Mohd Roslan Mohd Nor , Secretary Ulama Assoc. of Malaysia , Deputy Director (Research & Development), Academy of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya,
Dr Halim Muhammady , Vice Chair of WADAH , Chairman of Bairuni Research Consultant, Former Head Of Quranic Studies Department , Faculty of Islamic Studies, UKM
Hj Ahmad Awang , Former Director of Islamic Center , Malaysia
Hj Abdul Ghani Samsudin , Chairman of Secretariate for the Assembly of Ulama Asia , Former Head Department of Basic Social Studies , Faculty of Education , Universiti Malaya.
Dinsman ( Shamsuddin Osman ) , Presiden PAKSI
Datin Aminah Zakaria , Chair of Persatuan Persaudaraan Muslimah Malaysia, Former Principal of Kolej Islam Klang
Ir Hj Asari Daud, Former Deputy Director of DID
Ir .Kassim Muhammad , Former Director DID , Perlis
