KUALA LUMPUR
A NEW Syariah law that provides tougher penalties against cross-dressing in Pahang state, peninsula Malaysia, is not about punishing cross-dressers, but to discourage such activities from being rampant, says the Pahang Islamic Religious Department (Jaip).
Its deputy director Mohd Ghazali Abdul Aziz said that the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 2013 was about reminding the public that such social ills should be curbed for the greater good of the people.
“Prior to this, we have been focusing on organising awareness programmes as well as advising cross-dressers to change their behaviour.
“However, the current enforcement system lacks the power to tackle this issue effectively, and that’s why this new law is being implemented,” he said when contacted yesterday.
On Thursday, Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (Muip) deputy president Wan Abdul Wahid Wan Hassan said those arrested under the new Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 2013 could face a maximum of a year’s jail or be fined up to 1,000 ringgit (US$304.04) or both if convicted.
He said the lack of stern punishment against Mak Nyah (transvestites) and pengkid (tomboys) had resulted in a rise in immoral activity in the state.
Mohd Ghazali said enforcement under the new law, which came in force on December 1, had yet to be carried out as the new provisions were still being studied.
“I do not want to comment more on this because we have not enforced the law yet,” he added.
The Star/ANN
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