Malaysia Muslim Women Caning – Cane First, Talk Later

It is difficult at times to understand what the Malaysian leaders are thinking.  Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s recent announcement that Malaysia has started on the path of caning Muslim women for offenses under Syariah law came as a complete surprise to a nation that was eagerly waiting to see if Malaysian model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno would be the first such person to be caned for drinking alcohol. 

In the event, the first woman to be caned is not Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, but some unnamed adulterer who committed ”khalwat” or “illicit sex” and became pregnant out of wedlock. Actually there were 3 Muslim women caned for the identical offense of khalwat, so we don’t even know which of the 3 has the distinction of being the first Muslim woman to be caned in Malaysia. And this has caused a rather bewildered Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno much confusion – she couldn’t understand why she wasn’t caned as she never appealed against that caning sentence and had in fact asked for it to be expedited.

But if Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno is bewildered and confused, there is more confusion to come.  Now Senator Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, the Women, Family and Community Development Minister has come up with the idea to host an international Islamic conference in Malaysia.

There is nothing wrong with Malaysia wanting to host an international Islamic conference.  But what is surprising is the timing and purpose of this international Islamic conference that Senator Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil hopes to organize within 3 months. Another surprise is the proposed organizer.

First, consider the fact that Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil wants to organize this proposed international Islamic conference through her ministry’s Secretariat for the Defence and Empowerment of Women.

One would be forgiven to think that such a Secretariat would be pro-women, and it would be among the first to condemn the caning of the 3 Muslim women in Malaysia.  But no, there was no condemnation.  Instead Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said that Syariah laws, when implemented with wisdom and fairness, were “the most beautiful laws” in the world. This implies that Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and the Secretariat for the Defence and Empowerment of Women both support the Malaysian Government’s stand to start caning Muslim women for Syariah law offenses. 

Of course one can understand, and even sympathize with her.  As a Cabinet Minister, she has to toe the line.  But what’s is puzzling is her decision to seek Cabinet approval to host the international Islamic conference.  And the purpose of the conference?  To discuss whether it is the norm to cane Muslim women found guilty of committing offences under Syariah law.

Now it would be perfectly understandable if this proposed conference were to take place before any Muslim woman was caned.  Afterall, there was ample time to organize such a conference during the long delay in carrying out the caning sentence on Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno.  So why this cane first, talk later thing? 

Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said that ulamak (religious authorities/teachers) and NGOs would also have their forums at the conference.  When asked by a reporter if such debates would create tension, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said: “We should not fear debating any issue.”

But what if the finding of such an international Islamic conference is that it is not the norm to cane Muslim women for Syariah law offenses?  How would that affect Malaysia’s standing as a moderate Muslim country?  

Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil made this proposal to host an international Islamic conference after signing a memorandum of cooperation between her ministry and the Social Development Ministry of the Sultanate of Oman. 

And what is the purpose of this memorandum of cooperation?  Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil explained that the ministries of the two countries would cooperate in fields such as women, family and children development, senior citizens and people with disabilities, as well as gender studies.

Dr Sharifa Khalfah Al Yahyaeiyah, Social Development Minister said that  the Sultanate of Oman adopted Syariah law as the main law of the country.  So what is the stand of the Sultanate of Oman on the issue of caning Muslim women for Syariah law offenses? 

Dr Sharifa Khalfah Al Yahyaeiyah said: “As a moderate, progressive and modern country, women and men are treated equally under the law.” Then she added that the issue of caning did not exist because women and men were not caned, whether under Syariah or civil laws.

So what happens to those who are convicted of having illicit sex in the Sultanate of Oman?  They are jailed for 1 year, but not caned.  And what if a person is convicted of murdering another person?  Again no caning is involved.  The murderer is jailed, and on top of the jail sentence, that murderer has to compensate the victim’s family.

So in the Sultanate of Oman, where Syariah law is the main law, caning of people for Syariah law offenses is not the norm – in fact it is not practised at all.

Think about it.  In the light of the experience in the Sultanate of Oman, will the Cabinet approve the proposal by  Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to host an international Islamic conference to find out if caning of women for Syariah law offenses is the norm?  If it does give the approval, will the finding embarrass the government which has adopted this cane first, talk later policy?  And what can this conference do for Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno? And for the other Muslim women awaiting caning in Malaysia?

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