The International Islamic University Malaysia and FNF jointly organised the National Law Symposium 2005

In a follow-up to an earlier panel discussion of the Liberal Forum Malaysia on the role of the state in enforcing public morality, the Law Students’ Society of IIUM and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation jointly organised this year’s National Law Symposium on 30th July 2005 in Nikko Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

The symposium focused on the questions whether, and how far, the instrument of law should be used to uphold and enforce moral and religious values and to punish transgression of these values. Moreover, it discussed who, under the Federal Constitution, has the power, and within what limits, to punish Islamic law offences. The programme was grounded on the belief that law students need a platform to understand the superiority of constitutional law. Given the conservative views on the enforcement of Islamic laws and values generally taught in Malaysian Universities, the students need to hear alternative ideas and interpretations by legal experts and representatives from civil society.

Associate Professor Dr. Ida Madieha Bt. Abdul Ghani Azmi, Deputy Dean (Academic Affairs), Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws officiated the programme. In the morning session, Professor Dr. Shad Saleem Faruqi, UiTM, debated his view with Professor Dr. Abdul Aziz b. Bari of IIUM on the ‘Jurisdiction of Federal & State Authorities to Punish Offences Against the Precepts of Islam – A constitutional perspective”. This debate was followed by a presentation of Dr. Uthman el-Muhammady on “Morality and Law in Islam: Islamic View on infringement of Morality”.

After the rather academic nature of the discussions in the morning, the afternoon session started with a short statement of Ms. Zainah Anwar, Executive Director of Sisters in Islam, on contemporary issues. Her remarks were followed by a short statement of the lawyer Mr. Imtiaz Malik. Both believed that people have their individual rights to live their lives according to their personal choices. According to their views, the state should have no role to enforce morality of an individual. The morning panelists stayed on for the discussion, while Madam Shamrahayu Bt. Abdul Aziz replaced Professor Abdul Aziz B. Bari.

The encouraging number of participants came from various public Universities, such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaya, Univesiti Teknologi Mara and Kolej Universiti Islam Malaysia. The response given by the members of the floor was very positive, especially during the panel discussion and debate in the afternoon session. It is hoped that such a positive discussion will lead the law students towards a better understanding on the idea of liberty and the rule of law in an Islamic society.

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