
Moderator Datuk Noor Faridah Ariffin (second left) seen with panellists Nizam Bashir (left), Aston Paiva (second right) and Lim Heng Seng (right) during the forum “Maqasid Syariah in a Constitutional Democracy” in Bayan Baru,Penang, today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain,October 31, 2015.
The move to harmonise shariah and common laws in the country is just a ploy to dupe the people into believing that those with no religious credentials represent Islam, a constitutional and human rights lawyer said.
Harmonising the two sets of laws would involve amending the constitution, said Aston Paiva.
“Brandishing it as if you represent Islam is going to dupe people into thinking that you have some credentials when you have none.
“When you have a failing government accused of corruption, the only thing you can do is to seem holier than thou,” he said at the forum, “Maqasid Shariah in a Constitutional Democracy”, in Penang organised by G25 and think tank Penang Institute today. Read more