JOHOR BARU: The state government has no plans to introduce hudud
laws in Johor but will continue to enforce stricter punishments against
Muslims committing religious offences.

Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the hudud laws would
not be feasible here as the Government has to also consider the other
races who practised other religions.

He, however, stressed that harsh punishments were necessary to deter
Muslims from committing sins, but added that the punishments would not
cover non-Muslims in Johor.

"We hope that non-Muslims will not feel intimidated by the new laws as
they were implemented to further enhance awareness among Muslims on
religious values," he said yesterday.

Ghani was commenting on whipping to be imposed on Muslims who
commit seven religious offences under the newly gazetted Syariah
Criminal Offences Enactment 1997.

Under the new enactment, which was gazetted on Feb 9, offenders could be fined up to RM5,000 and jailed up to three years, or both.

The offences are incest, illicit sexual intercourse, sodomy, lesbianism,
pimping, prostitution and spreading and teaching false Islamic doctorines.

Previously, offenders were liable to a maximum fine of RM1,000 or six months' jail.

The new enactment was based on takzir, or court's discretion, to sentence offenders and not based on the hudud.