Penang Islamic department has no jurisdiction over non-Muslims, DAP rep says

By Opalyn Mok
Published: May 14, 2015 12:21 PM GMT+8 

GEORGE TOWN, May 14 ― A Penang DAP assemblyman said today the state’s Islamic 

religious affairs department (Jaipp) has no jurisdiction over non-Muslims and that it should

 avoid getting involved in cases involving non-Muslims.

Wong Hon Wai (DAP ― Air Itam) reminded the department and its officers that the Shariah 

Court only has jurisdiction over Muslims.

"The Shariah Court do not have any jurisdiction over Buddhist, Christians, Taoists, Sikh, 

Hindu and those of other faiths," he said today while debating the Penang Governor's speech.

He drew attention to two high profile cases in the Shariah Court involving non-Muslims 

last year.

"First, the case of Teoh Cheng Cheng whose funeral was postponed due to weaknesses in 

Jaipp," he said.

The late Teoh's body was taken away by Jaipp officers on her funeral as she was mistaken 

as a Muslim but her body was later released back to her Buddhist family after they proved in

 Shariah Court that she had never converted to Islam.

Wong said the matter was resolved after intervention from the state government and several 

elected representatives.

In another case, Wong said an Indonesian Christian, Halimah, was jailed 14 days and fined 

RM3,000 for khalwat (close proximity) by the Shariah Court.

Halimah's case dragged on for three years before the Shariah Court finally discharged and 

acquitted her last year.

Wong also called on the state to look into these high profile cases to avoid a repeat.

http://m.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/penang-islamic-department-has-no-jurisdiction-over-non-muslims-dap-rep-says