KUALA LUMPUR: PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli’s remark that Syariah court judges are at risk of being involved in corruption is similar to insulting the country’s Islamic judicial institution, said Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim.
In a statement today, Irmohizam issued a challenge to PKR to take stern action against Rafizi, describing the latter’s claim as “insane”.
“The blame game expert, Rafizi Ramli has become irrational when he claimed that Syariah court judges are among those arrested for corruption.
“I believe he has lost his mind since he always look for people’s mistakes, to the extent that he can’t differentiate between ‘a lot’ and ‘little’.
“The PKR leadership is now challenged to take stern action against the Pandan Member of Parliament since his remark is similar to insulting the Islamic judicial institution,” he said.
Earlier this week, Rafizi took part in a mock parliamentary debate organised by Pakatan Harapan which discussed Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Member's Bill to enhance Shariah offences, or Act 355.
During the debate, Rafizi had pointed out that Hadi’s amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act did not take into consideration the salaries of Syariah court judges thus opening room to a risk of corruption or abuse of power by the judges.
In response, the Malaysian Syariah Lawyers Association (PGSM) has demanded Rafizi to retract his statement as it has tarnished the dignity of the courts as well as the judges.
PGSM also explained that since the Syariah courts were established, there was only one case where a Syariah court judge was involved with corruption and it did not involve a large sum of money.
On this, Irmohizam said Rafizi’s statement was just part of the opposition’s plan to paint a bad image of the Syariah courts to the public.
“I see this as just a series of attack by Pakatan Harapan due to the tabling of RUU355 and also an effort to deviate the public’s attention from Lim Guan Eng’s corruption case as well as on Adam Rosly’s arrest.
“Rafizi had strayed from the right path, probably because he listened too much to DAP. The public do not want a MP who just like to point fingers but a MP who can take up the responsibilities entrusted by the people.” he added.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was alleged to have used his position to obtain gratification by purchasing his house from Phang at RM2.8 million, which was below the property’s market value of RM4.27 million on July 28, 2015.
Ampang PKR Youth chief Datuk Adam Rosly on the other hand had recently been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to assist in an investigation into his “unusual” wealth.