.jpg)
By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright February 2024
In the whimsical world of Malaysian politics, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has been likened to a character straight out of "The Flintstones" by AMANAH secretary-general Faiz Fadzil.
According to Faiz, Sanusi's understanding of Islam in the constitution is as primitive as the Stone Age setting of the Flinstones cartoon TV series. This implies that Sanusi is still stuck in that era. However, I doubt Kedah is that backward but by implication its Menteri Besar might still be!
Anyway, Faiz's comparison highlights a deeper issue at play – the clash between civil and Shariah law in Malaysia. Sanusi's recent comments about groups 'bred' to clash with Shariah law and his musings about 'colonisers' returning to Malaysia are not just comical; they reflect a serious lack of understanding of Malaysia's legal system and history.
Sanusi's assertion that Malaysia is one of the few countries with clear provisions of Islamic law in its constitution overlooks the complex interplay between civil and Shariah law in the country.
While Islamic law is indeed enshrined in the Federal Constitution, its implementation is subject to the Federal Court's interpretation, as evidenced by the recent ruling on the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Enactments.
By invoking images of a bygone era and suggesting a simplistic narrative of legal evolution in Malaysia, Sanusi risks oversimplifying a nuanced and evolving legal landscape. He needs to deepen his understanding the Federal Constitution and its influence on the promulgation of new Syariah enactment at state levels.
His remarks not only betray a lack of understanding of Malaysia's legal system but also a tendency to view complex issues through a narrow, cartoonish (Flinstones) lens.
Mihar Dias is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.