Lina Joy; Anything to do with Islam, hands off please.

This is another article to counter unjust vitriolic spewed out in Malaysiakini.
On any issues that touch Islam, or have anything to do about Islam, the ultimate power in Malaysia is the Sultans of the Malay States, State Governors or The King. Even though this country is called Malaysia, and we are citizens, its has Parliament as the main promulgator of laws, still the Sultans hold the power as the Head of State. Especially if it has anything to do with Islam.
Technically, Malaysia is a confederation of Malay States, Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, still is, because the Malay Sultans has never give up their sovereignty. They are still the Rulers. They still hold the ultimate power on the administration of Islam in their states. We never had revolution like in Russia that kill the ruling monarchs.
Iraq had their revolution, so does Iran, Libya, Egypt, Indonesia to name a few. In those countries, parliament is supreme.
In Malaysia, technically The King, Agong is supreme. Dont you know that every new piece of law has to be signed by Agong? Yeah most of the time Agong signed the law except maybe once years ago during Mahatir's time when the then Agong delayed signing one piece of law for a few months. But that is another story.
The Supreme Court decision the other day was right, they have no jurisdiction on something that has to do with Islam. Since Lina Joy is from Selangor, the ultimate power in Islamic affairs in Selangor is the Sultan of Selangor.
As in other states, the Sultan delegated the affairs of the Muslims to the Shariah courts.
Was Lina Joy a Muslim? Yes she was, and until she go to the Shariah court to declare that she is apostate, (and apply for her name to be struck out from register, if there is such thing) technically her name is still listed as Muslim.

I think whoever her lawyer is, who advised her to go to Supreme Court, is one heck of a dumb lawyer. Its just like going to Singaporean court for disputes that take place in Malaysia.
'di luar bidang kuasa'
Citing other cases;
Raimah Bibi - well she still professed Muslim, but her husband is still Hindu, so does her children, so the custody of her children is given to her husband. Because the children are Hindus. Yes she was sent to 'bootcamp', to remind her what is more important, being Muslim, believing in Allah and die as Muslim and have the chance of going to Heaven or you know what.

So what do you think would happen to Lina Joy soon as she go to Shariah court? Probably sent to 'bootcamp', to ascertain that THAT is what she really want.
There is a legend going around in Malay circles that Christian churches, give out 'Holy water' and if a Malay drink it, he/she will be possessed and become Christian.
Kes Lina Joy cabar kuasa raja-raja, pihak berkuasa agama
Intan Abdullah
Sat | Jun 02, 07 | 02:59:27 PM
KOTA BHARU, 2 Jun(Hrkh) - Timbalan Mursyidul Am PAS, Dato' Dr Haron Din mempersoalkan adakah dengan keputusan mahkamah yang memberi kemenangan kepada pihak yang mempertahankan Islam itu akan menyebabkan Azlina Jailani atau Lina Joy kembali kepada Islam?

"Adakah dengan tidak membuang namanya itu, akan menjamin bahawa dia akan terus kekal sebagai muslim?"tegas beliau dalam sesi wawancara muktamar sebentar tadi.

Dr Haron Din menjelaskan bahawa persoalan mengenai isu murtad ini tidak boleh diselesaikan sekadar membuang nama Islam pada kad pengenalan semata-mata.

Beliau turut mendakwa terdapat pihak yang turut serta terlibat dengan usaha untuk membawa kes itu ke mahkamah, bahkan beliau mengesyaki seolah-olah wujud satu organisasi yang membantu Azlina Jailani atau Lina Joy untuk melawan dan mencari jalan untuk membuang nama Islam beliau di Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara.

"Walaupun kad pengenalannya bernama Islam, tetapi pada hakikatnya, Islam dia telah gugur," ujar beliau.

Sementara itu, menurutnya lagi walaupun ada peruntukan yang jelas di mahkamah syariah tentang hak beragama ini hal untuk membuang nama sahaja telah memakan masa selama lapan tahun.

Dalam pada itu, tindakan membawa kes ini ke mahkamah sivil juga dianggap telah memperkecilkan peranan Jabatan Agama Islam yang mencerminkan seolah-olah kes murtad ini bertaraf 'second class'.

Ujarnya lagi, mahkamah majistret tidak layak untuk membicarakan kes besar yang berada dalam kategori kes hudud.

Oleh itu, mahkamah akhirnya telah memutuskan bahawa hal yang berkaitan agama ini adalah berada di bawah bidang kuasa majlis agama Islam negeri.

Beliau juga meminta agar kes yang sepatutnya dipandang serius yang melibatkan akidah seorang muslim yakni bagi yang ingin mengisytiharkan diri mereka keluar daripada agama seolah-olah memberikan satu cabaran kepada pihak berkuasa agama.

Pihak berkuasa agama katanya, harus menyelesaikan persoalan , "apa yang boleh kamu buat sekiranya aku menyatakan bahawa aku keluar daripada Islam?" apabila diajukan oleh golongan riddah ini kepada mereka.

Dr Haron juga yang merupakan mantan pensyarah syariah Islamiyah turut menjelaskan bahawa pembatalan agama ini tidak memerlukan kepada pengisytiharan.

sebaliknya, apabila Lina Joy mengemukakan permohonan yang dibuat secara terbuka kepada mahkamah untuk membuang agama pada kad pengenalan beliau maka ia mencetuskan satu cabaran kepada autoriti agama dan pada masa yang sama, mencabar kuasa agama yang ada pada raja-raja.

Tegasnya, murtad adalah satu kesalahan besar yang tergolong di dalam kategori undang-undang hudud dari segi syarak.

Beliau mahu semua pihak mengambil iktibar daripada kes ini adalah permulaan untuk melihat kepada cabaran demi cabaran kepada Islam, dan tindakan penyelesaian hendaklah dibuat bagi mengelakkan ia daripada berulang pada masa akan datang.

Mengulas kes permohonan Lina Joy membuang nama Islam pada kad pengenalannya, Dr Haron berkata walaupun kes itu telah memenangkan Islam, yang membawa maksud bahwa menghalang beliau untuk membuang nama Islam di dalam kad pengenalan beliau.

Dalam sesi yang sama, beliau tidak teragak-agak untuk menerima tawaran pencalonan dirinya sekiranya dinamakan sebagai calon dalam pilihan raya umum ke-12 yang akan datang.

Ujarnya, penyertaan beliau di kancah politik ini adalah merupakan satu amanah kepada perjuangan ini dengan mengambil kira ia adalah satu keputusan yang telah ditetapkan oleh pihak tertinggi parti. - mks.

and this one

01/06: Lina Joy ikon mencabar Perlembagaan Malaysia
Category: General Posted by: Raja Petra
Ab Jalil Backer (jalil74@myjaring.net)

Saya ingin merakamkan tahniah kepada Mahkamah Persekutuan yang secara jelas menyatakan kedudukan Mahkamah Syariah dan mempertahankan pembahagian kuasa antara persekutuan dengan negeri dan juga kedudukan Islam dalam Perlembagaan negara.

Kesan kepada keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan terhadap kes Lina Joy atau Azalina Jalaini sudah diduga. Jika Lina menang maka akan timbul kemarahan orang Islam. Jika Lina kalah maka akan timbul kemarahan orang bukan Islam.

Dengan kata lain, walau apa pun keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan semalam tidak mungkin akan meredakan ketegangan dalam isu ini. Kedua-dua pihak yang menyokong dan menentang murtadnya seorang manusia Melayu bernama Azalina Jalaini ini kepada Lina Joy hanya menjadi alat untuk memporak-perandakan Perlembagaan Malaysia dan persetujuan-persetujuan kemerdekaan negara termasuk pemberian kerakyatan kepada jutaan bukan Melayu dan Islam.

Secara peribadi saya berpegang kepada pandangan bahawa orang yang ingin keluar Islam atau murtad, tanpa memerangi Islam atau negara Islam, tidak harus dihukum atau dihalang, apatah lagi dihukum bunuh. Hal ini saya tegaskan beberapa kali dalam Forum Pembaca Utusan Malaysia sekitar 1999. Kerana itu saya menerima banyak kecaman dan ancaman yang sampai sekarang boleh dibaca sebahagiannya di Enjin Pencari Google.

Justeru secara peribadi saya tiada masalah jika Lina Joy mahu keluar Islam atau murtad. Islam tidak memerlukan mereka yang tidak percaya kepada keluhuran dan kebenaran janji-janji Allah. Islam itu lebih besar dari penganutnya mahu pun manusia.

Namun isu Lina Joy menimbulkan persoalan yang lebih besar bukan sahaja kepada saya malah sebahagian besar orang Melayu. Tanpa mengambil kira persepsi Pas, sebahagian besar Badan Bukan Kerajaan (NGO) Islam yang menyertai protes dan bantahan ini melihat sudut pandangan yang lebih besar.

Lina Joy telah mengemukakan permohonan kepada Mahkamah Sivil Malaysia agar Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN) untuk menukar status agama di dalam Mykadnya. Lina juga mempertikaikan tindakan JPN yang mahukan keputusan bertulis Mahkamah Syariah yang menyatakan beliau sudah meninggalkan agama Islam.

Justeru isu yang dibincangkan di mahkamah Sivil (dari Mahkamah Tinggi, Mahkamah Rayuan dan Mahkamah Persekutuan) dari awal sehingga keputusan muktamad ialah sama ada Mahkamah Sivil mempunyai hak untuk menentukan keislaman seseorang atau membenarkan seseorang muslim keluar dari Islam.

Justeru beberapa hari lalu, Mahkamah Persekutuan membuat keputusan muktamad bahawa hanya Mahkamah Syariah yang berhak menentukan kedudukan agama seseorang Muslim yang ingin murtad.

Tidak timbul isu orang Islam tidak dibenarkan menukar agama di negara ini. Tidak timbul isu Lina Joy tidak dibenarkan murtad. Isu adalah isu Perlembagaan.

Sejak dari awal hampir kesemua peguam yang ikhlas di Malaysia memahami bahawa isu-isu berkaitan agama Islam termasuklah murtad berada di bawah kuasa raja atau sultan, negeri dan mahkamah Syariah. Keputusan Mahkamah Persekutuan hanya mengesahkan lagi keputusan-keputusan terdahulu dan semangat Perlembagaan dan isu kedudukan agama Islam dan mahkamah syariah.

Mengapakah saluran yang betul tidak digunakan oleh Lina Joy dan kumpulan yang berada di belakangnya untuk mendapatkan pertintah mahkamah ke atas status agamanya?
Mengapa Lina Joy mengambil keputusan membawa kes ini ke mahkamah sivil tanpa melalui saluran asal iaitu mahkamah Syariah?

Alasan yang diberikan bahawa tidak mungkin Mahkamah Syariah akan membenarkannya atau sebagainya hanyalah berbentuk hipotesis yang tidak boleh dibuktikan kebenarannya. Ini kerana Lina tidak pernah membawa kesnya ke Mahkamah Syariah.

Jika beliau boleh menghabiskan masa hampir 7 tahun di Mahkamah sivil maka kita tertanya-tanya mengapa beliau tidak boleh mematuhi undang-undang negara ini dengan membuat permohonan beliau di Mahakamah Syariah.

Pada hemat saya, Jika permohonan beliau gagal, barulah beliau ada locus standi untuk membawa kesnya ke Mahakamah Tinggi.

Tindakan Lina Joy, dan kumpulan dibelakangnya, menghabiskan begitu banyak wang di Mahkamah Sivil mencabar fasal-fasal dalam Perlembagaan Malaysia berkenaan kedudukan Islam dan Mahkamah Syariah tidak lagi boleh dilihat hanya untuk memenuhi hawa nafsunya menukar agama lagi.

Sebaliknya, kumpulan ini jelas memperlihatkan usaha mereka mencabar kedudukan agama Islam sebagai Agama Rasmi Persekutuan, pembahagian kuasa antara Persekutuan dan Negeri serta kedudukan raja-raja Melayu. Ini sekaligus usaha awal untuk memansuhkan segala elemen-elemen persetujuan Kemerdekaaan Negara yang membabitkan orang Melayu secara keseluruhannya.

Jika dua daripada tiga hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan tempoh hari terpengaruh dengan lobi kumpulan ini pasti semangat Perlembagaan Malaysia ini sudah tercabul dan akan mencetuskan lebih banyak kontroversi dan pengahakisan hak-hak orang Melayu yang dipersetujui sebelum ini.

Perjuangan Lina Joy di Mahkamah sivil hanyalah ikon kepada usaha semangat Perlembagaan yang membabitkan fasal-fasal yang diminta oleh orang Melayu dalam Perlembagaan Malaysia sebagai balasan kepada pemberian kewarganegaraan kepada kaum Cina dan India ketika itu.

Ketika hak-hak yang dituntut oleh kaum-kaum bukan Melayu dipatuhi dan tidak pernah dicabar, terdapat usaha sekarang ini untuk menarik balik persetujuan antara kaum sebelum merdeka dahulu.

Lebih jelas usaha ini dilihat ingin mencabar kedudukan Mahkamah Syariah yang sebelum ini dianggap setaraf dengan Mahkamah Sivil. Mereka mahu menurunkan kedudukan Mahkamah Syariah sekaligus mengurangkan kedudukan Islam sebagai agama rasmi persekutuan.

Dan isu inilah yang menimbulkan kemarahan sebahagian orang Melayu dan NGO Islam yang terbabit tempoh hari.

Diharap kerajaan mengambil tindakan tegas ke atas sesiapa yang memutarbelitkan kenyataan bahawa keputusan Mahkamah Persekutuan tersebut menghalang kebebasan beragama.

Ini kerana hakikatnya, Mahkamah Persekutuan hanya membuat keputusan bahawa kedudukan agama Lina Joy hanya boleh tentukan oleh Mahkamah Syariah kerana beliau merupakan seorang Islam yang ingin keluar agama.

Freedom of Belief and Lina Joy - the sequel

Reading the comments on my previous posting regarding this issue, I shall try to explain further my views. Absolutely, comments on Malaysiakini is getting hot and sometimes missing the point. Some letters in Malaysiakini blew things out of proportion, when the real issue is about changing religion on NRIC card.

Let me write a disclaimer first:
" Anything I write here, if it is wrong according to Islamic tenets, principles, would be my own fault for I am an ignorant idiot. As in idiomatic expression; I am just a blind man trying to explain what an elephant look like, feeling it with my hand and telling everyone what I think it look like, when I could not see. Anything good is from Allah the Most Knowledgeable and anything bad, is from me."

Does NRD has the power to erase the religion part in your IC card? Well NRD is just a Govt Dept, it only do its jobs, it doesnt have the authority to do that. So NRD is right in advising Lina Joy to go to Shariah Court to get the certificate that certify she has renounce Islam.
You see, all Muslim in this world is like a community. If one Muslim died, it would be the responsibility of Muslim community to accord him or her Muslim rites of burial, washing and last prayer. If Lina Joy has renounce Islam, (this has to be done and witnessed by the ruler of the Muslims) then the Muslim community washed their hand on her, her actions, her last rites, her burial is of no concern of the Muslim community.
Muslim community 'tidak berdosa' if Lina Joy die tomorrow and she be cremated or buried without being accorded last rites - prayer, body washing, burial etc. Her body could be fed to the carrions like the Parsees for all we care. It would be none of our responsibility.
And who represent the ruler in Malay States? The Shariah Courts of course. So all Lina Joy has to do is go to Shariah court and renounce Islam. So we Muslims can wash our hand...er.. our responsility to her.
By the same argument, if someone in Malaysia found a dead body, no matter what it look like (white, black, blue(smurf?) or yellow) and if there is an IC which says he/she professes Islam, then it would be our responsibility to accord the dead person the last rites.
Let me give another example. Have any of you been buying alcoholic drink at the supermarket where some of their workers at the checkout Muslims? What happen if a Muslim try to buy alcoholic beer? (There are some brand of beer that doesnt contain alcohol) The Muslim would first ask, "Are you Muslim?". And if affirmative, he or she would refuse to sell the beer right? Why?
Is Muslim person allowed to enter the casino at Genting? Why?
I am not going to answer those for you, you would have to research yourself.

As for question about polygamy, I would rather not go into this sensitive subject. In Islam, our LOVE, the first and foremost is for Allah and His Prophet Muhammad s.a.w then our mother, then our mother, then our mother (3X) then our father.
The Prophet exhort us to get married, and have many, many children and bring up our children in 'iman' Islamic faith. When we die, the children will 'doakan' us, and help lessen our 'siksa kubur'.
So there, the encouragement to have many children, and up to four wives at one time. Of course, most bumbling idiot like me, cant even manage one. The Prophet gave us a good example. He had nine wives, Khadijah r.a and Aisha r.a are the most well known.
Perhaps someone else can explain better than me on the above issues, please 'silakan'.
I found this explanation by Nathaniel Tan in Malaysiakini helpful.
Lina Joy: Let’s not leap to polemics
Nathaniel Tan
May 31, 07 2:58pm Adjust font size:

I refer to the malaysiakini report No joy for Lina. We can expect a lot of emotional responses to the recent ruling involving Lina Joy. In navigating the understandable amount of passion surrounding this issue, it is perhaps worth ensuring that the details of this judgement are properly understood for what they are.

Many are likely to say that this is the death of freedom in religion in Malaysia, because Lina Joy was denied of her right to convert. A closer look reveals a slightly more textured landscape. By way of brief chronology:


Lina was a Muslim who renounced Islam.


She went to the National Registration Department (NRD) to have the religion on her MyKad and on record changed.


The NRD said: ‘For us to change the religion on your MyKad, we need a certificate from the Syariah Court stating that you have indeed renounced Islam’.


Yesterday, the Federal Court upheld the ruling of the NRD.
It is important to realise that technically and theoretically (if nothing else), the road is still open for Lina to go to the Syariah courts, apply for recognition of her decision to renounce Islam, obtain it and live happily ever after.

Some make the argument, clearly not entirely without merit, that since Lina has renounced Islam, she should not in any way, shape or form have to submit herself to the jurisdiction of the Syariah under any circumstances as this would be subjecting a non-Muslim to Muslim laws.

Others yet (again, perhaps understandably) are extremely cynical about the chances of the Syariah courts actually granting such a controversial recognition of apostasy. The hardcore religious, after all, are likely to fear the ripple effect this may cause – a wave of mass apostasy being the biggest fear (founded or unfounded) of all.

Some might even see a political angle to this – where the ruling powers refuse to take any steps that would cost them Malay votes in a time where the non-Malay votes are swinging strongly against the government.

A 'miracle' decision by the Syariah court – should Lina decide to apply there – to allow her renunciation might be a relatively successful compromise. It would appease some of the more religious parties who hold the Syariah in such high esteem, and espouse its ability to dispense justice fairly to non-Muslims (as in their much touted case of Nyonya Tahir), while essentially granting Lina the fundamental right to convert.

In any case, it would be extremely mature of us to see the judgement for what it is and not be too quick to condemn it for what it is not (or what it isn't yet). If we are to criticise it, which is our inherent right, let us be clear on what we are debating, rather than leap to polemics.

Freedom of Belief and Lina Joy.

Articles upon articles in Malaysiakini and other online media are dedicated to this story. Not surprisingly, Malaysiakini is the most vocal in its criticism of the High Court decision of Lina Joy vs Registration Dept. What do we expect? The law of the land in Malaysia say so, what I dont understand is, why Lina Joy choose this method?
She could simply migrate to some Western country and not an iota would appear in the media.

Let me elaborate further by telling some true story.
I personally know at least 3 women who left Islam, two of them Malay women. As in Lina Joy case, the story has some similarity.
Lina Joy met a Christian fellow, fall in love, become convinced of Christianity and 'murtad'. Read that she left Islam at age of 36, presumably not married ie single before then.
Someone I know, a Malay woman, in this city where I live (let us call her Mrs C) was first married to a Mat Salleh convert and migrate here years ago. Things didnt go well, and they divorced. She 'menjanda' for a few years, then met a Catholic guy, who is deeply religious. Then one day Mrs C saw apparition of Jesus at home, she become confused, started believing in it and 'sujud' at the apparition and asking Allah to show the correct path. The apparition appear again and Mrs C become convinced that Jesus is God. Next she went to church and convert to Catholicism. That was the story told to me. I do not need to elaborate further explanations from Islamic faith.
Another Malay woman, married a Mat Salleh army personnel years ago and migrate here. After a few years, she got divorced, 'menjanda' and got hooked up with another Mat Salleh. She become Catholic and married at a church.
A Fijian Indian woman from a Muslim family just died 2-3 days ago. She married a Mat Salleh, who hasnt convert to Islam. When she almost dying, 'nazak' at the hospital, we were confused when Hare Krishna people come visiting and offer prayers. Then they confided that She had converted to Hinduism and went to Hare Krishna temple for prayers.
Notice the similarity?
They all in thirst of LOVE. The Christians, Catholics and whatever denominations all offer LOVE and spread the message of love, 'Jesus love you' among other things. Lina Joy was 36 when she convert, I assume that she was an 'andartu' then, had never found love and destined to enter prime years as virgin, never had loving relationship with any man. Until she met that Christian fellow.

So whose fault is it that some Malays convert to Christianity or any other religion? We must look at ourselves, our Islamic institutions and the way we do things in Malaysia.
My Islamic knowledge is limited, I have a lot to learn but I can offer to shed some views.
Prophet Muhammad s.a.w encourage us to get married as soon as possible, if we are able. But we Malaysian Muslims put barriers, we set up rules such as exams (yes Muslim couples have to attend course and pass test before they can apply to get married!), dowry and whatever.
Prophet Muhammad s.a.w encourage polygamy, up to four. Yet we set up rules to discourage this, and in the age of many, many more women than men, we have surplus women who end up as 'andartu'.
I know those rules were set up with good intention, BUT ALLAH KNOWS BEST. Allah is All Knowing.
Think about it!


31/05: Shadow cast over similar cases of apostasy
Category: General Posted by: Raja Petra
Muslim groups hail ruling on Lina Joy's appeal but non-Muslims call it a setback

By Carolyn Hong, Malaysia Bureau Chief
The Straits Times

IT WAS a grim day yesterday for Ms Lina Joy, who lost her six-year legal battle to have her conversion from Islam to Christianity recognised.

But it was an equally grim day for at least six other Muslim women who have similar cases pending in the lower civil courts.

They were eagerly awaiting the outcome of this case, seen as a test for religious freedom in Malaysia.

But the judgment did not bring cheer for them.

The Federal Court decided in a 2-1 ruling yesterday that Ms Lina could not have the word 'Islam' deleted from her identity card without first obtaining a certificate of apostasy from the Syariah Court.

But that could prove difficult as the Syariah Court is reluctant to allow it, and some states have also criminalised apostasy.

So far, it is believed that only 15 to 20 Muslims have been allowed to leave Islam officially through the Syariah Court, according to lawyer Pawancheek Merican.

Mr Pawancheek heads Defenders of Islam, a coalition of 80 Muslim non-governmental organisations, which was set up following a spate of religious disputes that have strained race relations in Malaysia.

To some non-Muslims, yesterday's judgment spelt a setback for religious freedom in Malaysia.

'I think it's a major blow,' opposition politician Lim Kit Siang was quoted as saying by Reuters.

'It casts a large shadow on civil liberties and the constitutional rights of Malaysians.'

But Muslim groups hailed it as upholding the special position of Islam in Malaysia and reaffirming the social construct of the country, which gives the Malays and Islam a more prominent position.

The influential Malaysian Muslim Youth Movement said Malaysians should now 'modify their expectations' in line with the realities of the country's social fabric.

'We invite anyone who is aggrieved to use other less confrontational approach towards change and reform,' said its president, Mr Yusri Mohamad.

In law, there is one major point in the judgment which will cast a long shadow over pending cases - the court's ruling on the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court vis-a-vis the civil courts.

Malaysia has a parallel justice system for family and religious matters - the civil court for non-Muslims, and Syariah Court for Muslims.

But there is frequently a tussle in grey areas such as apostasy where the party refuses to submit to the Syariah Court as they have left Islam, or when disputes involve both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Of late, many have turned to the civil courts for redress, but the courts have consistently declined to hear them.

One example is the case of the late M. Moorthy, a soldier who died in 2005 after converting to Islam. His Hindu widow fought the Islamic religious authorities for his body as she insisted that he was Hindu.

The civil court refused to hear her case, saying it was a matter for the Syariah Court.

Mrs Moorthy has filed an appeal in the civil Court of Appeal for her husband's body to be exhumed and cremated according to Hindu rites. This is pending.

The Lina Joy judgment on the jurisdictional issue will have vast implications for this case and other future cases, said lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar.

Mr Malik, who has handled many such cases, said the Federal Court had decided in Ms Lina's case that the Syariah Court could have jurisdiction by 'necessary implication'.

This is because the law does not specifically stipulate that the Syariah Court has jurisdiction over apostasy.

Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, who delivered the main judgment, said the Syariah Court had such powers by necessary implication.

'It is logical that the Syariah Court, which has jurisdiction over those embracing Islam, will by implication also deal with the issues of leaving Islam or apostasy,' he said.

Mr Malik said this could mean that the Syariah Court can take jurisdiction over any matter relating to Islam, and this can be a vast area.

It could have an impact on the Moorthy case, and on the case of Mrs R. Subashini, a Hindu who is fighting to stop her estranged husband, who converted to Islam last year, from converting their youngest son.

Her appeal to the Federal Court is pending after a lower civil court said she had to seek redress from the Syariah Court.

But Mr Malik hopes these cases might, in fact, provide the opportunity to revisit this issue of jurisdiction.

'I don't think the issue is closed,' he said.

But another lawyer, Mr Leonard Teoh, who has been monitoring the trial for several non-Muslim NGOs, thinks the next step has to be a political one.

'In the interest of racial and religious harmony, something needs to be done,' he said.