Last month Datuk Abdul Manan Abdul Rahman, director of the State Religious Department said that Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno will be caned after her meeting with Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah. Well, this meeting took place yesterday, and now it seems that Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno could well receive an unsolicited royal pardon.
Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno had requested this royal audience. Before the meeting, Shukarno Mutalib, father of Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno said: ““Kartika will be accompanied by her lawyer. We are not sure yet of the meeting agenda but the prince has reportedly said they will discuss the case, so there may be a decision whether or not to cane my daughter.”
That statement was somewhat wishful, for it raised the possibility that Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno may not be caned. Seen in the light of the February 9 caning of 3 Muslim women for having illicit sex and giving birth out of wedlock, Shukarno Mutalib’s hope of her daughter being let off from caning seems very slim indeed. But now, after the royal audience with Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, the possiblity exists for a royal pardon for Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno.
However, the family is not talking. Almir Ayat, spokesman for Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno said: “Kartika had an audience with the Pahang crown prince for about 30 minutes this morning but we are not in a position to make any comment on what transpired. Any decision or announcement will be made by the palace. Kartika is still firm with her stand.”
And what is her stand? Eversince she was convicted by the Syariah Court of drinking alcohol, Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno has pleaded guilty, paid her fine and was all ready to receive the caning punishment. She has refused to appeal against the caning sentence, despite being urged to do so by many people and organizations. She has consistently asked to be caned, and pleaded for the caning to be expedited. However, her caning was postponed, and in the meantime, 3 other Muslim women became the first women to be caned in Malaysia.
So what did Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno tell the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah at her royal audience yesterday? Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said that Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno told him of the stress that she had undergone because of the postponement of the caning. Then he added: “This case will be settled as soon as possible. It just needs scrutiny in terms of the implementation of the penalty.”
But Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who is also president of the Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MUIP) added that even though Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno did not appeal against the caning sentence, the Sultan of Pahang has the power to reduce the 6 strokes of the cane meted to her by the Syariah Court, or to pardon her. He said that this power is given to the Sultan of Pahang under Section 133 of the Pahang Syariah Criminal Procedure Enactment 2002. Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah then said that he would present the case to the Sultan of Pahang for a decision soon. He urged all parties to respect and not dispute the Sultan’s decision.
Think about it. This case has dragged on for so long and the stress has caused Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno’s marriage to breakdown. She is now divorced from her husband. The caning has already been postponed for 6 months. Government ministers had earlier commented that the caning sentence was too harsh, which is understandable given that Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno was a first offender who pleaded guilty and had not opposed the sentence and had not appealed against it. So is the royal pardon the way out of the Kartika caning dilemma? What if instead of 6 strokes of the cane, the sentence is reduced by royal decree to a lower number of strokes? Will this end the disquiet on the Kartika caning case? Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah certainly hopes so, for he urges all parties not to dispute the Sultan’s decision, whatever that may be.
Previous posts
Kartika Caning – No Hope For Historic First
Kartika Caning – To Be Carried Out After Audience With Tengku Mahkota Of Pahang
Kartika Caning – Resolution Possible Within A Month
Kartika Caning – Divorce Official
Kartika Caning – “Don’t Leave Me In Limbo”
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