This comes after PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan refused to retract parliamentary remarks containing the word, which means ‘hypocrite’.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed regret that despite the government’s efforts to strengthen religious education, accusations of hypocrisy continue to be levelled against the government’s leadership and the budget. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has criticised the tendency of certain parties to label other Muslims as “munafik” (hypocrites) and infidels over differences in views, saying such behaviour does not reflect the moral conduct and character demanded by Islam.
Anwar said such people tended to judge others based on their limited knowledge of religion, and called on them to deepen their understanding of Islam.
“(These people) learn a little religion and proceed to judge others and call them infidels and hypocrites,” he was quoted by Kosmo as saying at an event at Kompleks Seri Perdana in Putrajaya today.
He expressed regret that despite the government’s efforts to revive pondok schools and strengthen religious education, accusations of hypocrisy continued to be levelled against the government’s leadership and the budget.
“When it was debated in Parliament, they called the leader a hypocrite and the budget hypocritical,” he said.
His remarks come after Perikatan Nasional chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan refused to retract his use of the word “munafik” in the Dewan Rakyat.
The PAS secretary-general made the remarks during the 2027 budget debate last week, prompting protests from Jelutong MP RSN Rayer, who claimed that Takiyuddin had directed his translation of a hadith into Malay and his use of the word “munafik” at Anwar and the budget.
Speaker Johari Abdul later reminded MPs to be cautious when using religious terms during debates, saying such language could lead to misunderstandings and prolonged arguments in the House.
He said the use of terms such as “munafik” may seem normal to those with deep religious knowledge, but could cause undue concern among those less familiar with their meanings, including non-Muslims.
Court of Appeal also sentences Anuar Kintan to 11 strokes of the cane.
The Court of Appeal dismissed Anuar Kintan’s appeal against his conviction and sentence imposed by the High Court on a charge of making pornography, and upheld the prosecution’s appeal against his acquittal on a sexual assault charge.
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal today sentenced a headmaster to 20 years’ jail and 11 strokes of the cane for pornography and committing physical sexual assault on a Year 6 pupil five years ago.
A three-member panel, chaired by Justice Noorin Badaruddin, sitting with Justices Radzi Abdul Hamid and Meor Hashimi Abdul Hamid, dismissed Anuar Kintan’s appeal against his conviction and sentence of nine years’ jail and eight strokes of the cane imposed by the High Court on the charge of producing pornography.
The panel also allowed the prosecution’s appeal to overturn the lower court’s decision to acquit and discharge Anuar on the second charge of physical sexual assault against the victim, who was 12 at the time.
The court convicted him of the charge, and sentenced him to 11 years’ jail and three strokes of the cane.
Noorin, who delivered the unanimous decision, ordered the sentences to be served consecutively.
She also issued a warrant of committal for Anuar, 59, to begin his sentence today.
The accused had previously obtained a stay of execution of the sentence and was released on bail of RM14,000 with one surety pending disposal of his appeal.
The court, meanwhile, upheld the lower court’s decision to acquit and discharge Anuar on two further charges, involving physical sexual assault on the girl, and uttering words intended to be heard by the victim for sexual purposes.
Noorin said the victim had given direct testimony identifying the accused as the person who took the photographs, and that her testimony had been considered by the sessions court judge who accepted it.
She said the existence of the photographs was not an isolated circumstance, but was supported by forensic examination that identified the images in Anuar’s mobile phone.
She said the court disagreed that the alibi evidence presented by Anuar had raised reasonable doubt.
The defence had put forward an alibi in which Anuar’s wife testified that he was at home with her, and not at the school, when the incident occurred.
Noorin said the testimony of the victim’s friend provided material support for the prosecution’s case regarding the accused’s presence at the school on April 3, 2021, and his movements with the victim.
Therefore, the alibi evidence presented by the accused did not raise reasonable doubt.
On April 19, 2024, the sessions court found Anuar guilty of the first offence of making pornography by taking photos of the victim and sentenced him to three years in jail and two strokes of the cane.
The court also sentenced him to an additional one year’s imprisonment and two strokes of the cane under Section 16 (1) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
The section provides for punishment if an offender commits a sexual crime while holding a position of trust over a child. The sentences were to run consecutively.
The court, however, acquitted him on the second, third and fourth charges.
On Aug 15 last year, the High Court increased the prison sentence on the first charge to nine years’ and eight strokes of the cane and upheld his acquittal on the other three charges.
The offences were committed at a school in Perak in the middle of March 2021 and on April 3, 2021.
Anuar was represented by lawyer Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi, while deputy public prosecutors Azlina Mahmod and P Sarulatha appeared for the prosecution.
Rafique Rashid Ali asks if an ex-policeman's request to review a 2015 report is aimed at creating a negative perception of the AKPS chief, who is firm in carrying out his duties.
AKPS chief Shuhaily Zain was charged on Oct 21 with assaulting two policemen at KLIA Terminal 1 on Sept 28.
PETALING JAYA: The lawyer representing Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) chief Shuhaily Zain has questioned why a former policeman is raising assault allegations against his client after more than a decade.
Rafique Rashid Ali also questioned why the incident, which allegedly took place in 2015, was only raised after Shuhaily had come under public scrutiny, Sinar Harian reported.
The assault was alleged to have taken place when Shuhaily was serving as Hilir Perak district police chief.
Rafique also questioned whether the latest development was aimed at creating a negative perception of Shuhaily, who he said has public support for his firmness and discipline in carrying out his duties.
He was commenting on a statement by the lawyer representing former policeman Saifuddin Abdul Kader, asking for the Attorney-General’s Chambers to review a police report lodged on Nov 19, 2015.
Lawyer Kamal Hisham Ja’afar claimed that Saifuddin was a victim of assault by Shuhaily, and that he faced difficulties in service after lodging the report, until he was eventually dismissed from the police force.
Rafique acknowledged that criminal offences have no statute of limitations for prosecution, unlike some civil claims.
“If the AGC or the police want to investigate that report further, please do. However, the question the public should consider is why this matter is being raised now,” he said.
He said any decision on whether a case has grounds for prosecution or otherwise lies with the AGC.
Shuhaily was charged in the Sepang magistrates’ court on Oct 21 with assaulting two policemen last month.
He is accused of two counts under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt to Faiz Saman and Ekmal Sofwan at KLIA Terminal 1 on Sept 28.
