Time To Run?

Malaysia made it into Reuters again, and this time for the case on which I feel that my livelihood and future hangs in the balance. This was the case that was perpetually on my mind when I went to Singapore. I didn't plan the trip with the intention of deciding if I could live there, but that's certainly what ended up happening.

For those of you who are away and unaware, from Reuters: Woman wants public caning for drinking beer:

Kartika, a Malaysian citizen married to a Singaporean, is a Singapore resident. Religious authorities caught her drinking at a hotel in Kuantan, the state capital of the central Malaysian state of Pahang, on December 11, 2007.

Kartika said she had three glasses of beer before the hotel was raided in what she said was her second time drinking alcohol. She and the other patrons were asked to provide urine samples.

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno will be the first Malaysian woman to be caned under Islamic laws applicable to Malaysia's Muslims, who account for 60 percent of the 27-million population.

No woman has ever been caned in Malaysia before, and no one ever thought they would. This woman not only refuses to appeal, which is a disservice to all Malay women, but also wants to do it in public. This woman has clearly never Googled a caning before or watched the videos on YouTube.

I think she's being selfish, because once it's done, there is a legal precedent set and the courts won't hesitate to cane another woman.

Yep, I think it's about time I have a backup plan. I never thought I'd have to, honestly, because I love KL so much and I've always had faith in Malaysians. I just don't know anymore.

Update (24 August, 12.11pm): From Reuters: Malaysia frees woman on caning charge:

SUNGAI SIPUT, Malaysia (Reuters) - Religious authorities in Malaysia on Monday freed a Muslim woman who had been sentenced to be caned for drinking beer, although she refused to leave a van taking her to jail when returned to her home.

And her father said the change of mind would ridicule Islam, which bans Muslims from consuming alcohol.

"The warrant cannot be executed," Sharafuddin Zainal Ariffin, head of enforcement for the state of Pahang's Islamic Affairs Department, told reporters after Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, 32, was returned to her house.

It was not immediately clear whether the sentence, the first time a woman has been sentenced to caning in this Southeast Asian country, had been overturned or merely postponed.

Both the woman, a Malaysian who has two children and who had worked as a nurse in Singapore, and her father had called for the sentence to be carried out quickly and in public.

Kartika was to have been taken to another state to be caned some time this week.

"I will not come out without a black and white document explaining the status of what has happened. I am surprised and speechless," Kartika told reporters.

Her father said the change of mind would bring "ridicule" on Islam. "We had already
accepted the punishment," Shukarnor Mutalib, told reporters.

Thank god, and also, what?

Update (25 August, 9.03am): From The Star: Mosque officials get power to nab Muslims drinking alcohol:

SHAH ALAM: Mosque officials in Selangor have now been empowered to arrest Muslims drinking alcohol in public places.

Also at risk of being arrested are Muslims selling, storing and displaying alcoholic drinks for sale.

Announcing this yesterday, Selangor executive councillor Datuk Dr Hassan Mohd Ali said the mosque officials empowered to carry out the arrest were the nazir, imam, bilal and siak.

Dr Hassan, who is also the Selangor PAS commissioner, said the officials were empowered to arrest without warrant under Section 18 of the Syariah Criminal Precedure (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003.

He said the officials would be required to adhere to procedures under the enactment.

“These officials have been appointed to assist the Selangor Islamic Religious Council and the Selangor Islamic Re­­ligious Department,” he told reporters after a briefing at Shah Alam mosque here.

The briefing was for the first batch of 300 mosque officials and was conducted by Selangor assistant Syariah legal adviser Mohamed Fouzi Mokh­tar.

Dr Hassan said officials from 170 mosques throughout the state would be briefed on the arrest procedure.

Explaining the procedure, Dr Hassan said those who drank in public would not be immediately arrested.

“They will be issued with a notice and they can be fined, especially those who retaliate or are uncooperative,” he said.

He added that mosque officials could not detain the alleged offenders for more than 24 hours.

“They have to be surrendered to the police or religious authorities within that period,” he said.

Dr Hassan said that if convicted of consuming alcohol in public places, an offender could be fined RM3,000 or jailed not more than two years or both under Section 18 of the Syariah Crimi­nal (State of Selangor) Enactment 1995.

Those caught selling, displaying for sale and storing or buying alcohol, could be charged under the same section and fined RM5,000 or jailed for not more than three years or both.

Dr Hassan also said that Mus­lims who commit offences such as eating, drinking, smoking and selling food to other Muslims during the Ramadan month could be charged and fined RM1,000 or jailed for not more than six months or both.

For subsequent offences, they could be fined RM2,000 or jailed for not more than one year or both.

Dr Hassan said the officers from the religious authorities could not arrest those who commit such offences.

He said the officers were only required to take down the alleged offenders’ particulars, offences and the exhibits.

Enforcement officers from the religious authorities would need the state head of Syariah prosecution’s approval before investigating.

Yep. Beginning of the end. Time to look for a job in Singapore.