SUPP on case of application to be released from Islam

suppadmin | August 19, 2016

SUPP notes with deep concern the decision made by the Court of Appeal on the case where three Sarawakians had applied to be released from the religion of Islam. The Court of Appeal overturned the High Court decision presumably on the grounds that it is bound by the Federal Court decision in the Lina Jay case.

SUPP agrees with the Deputy Chief Minister TSDA Dr James Masing that in all matters affecting the freedom of the individual, especially the right to choose a religion of his own to practise, the Federal Constitution reigns supreme.

SUPP would go further to say that in cases involving the freedom of Sarawakians to practise the religion of their choice. The Federal Constitution itself must be subject to, and construed in the light of The Malaysia Agreement 1963. SUPP has in fact formed a committee to undertake a comprehensive standby of State-Federal relationship as spelled out in the 1963 Agreement, which unequivocally guarantees certain rights and privileges granted to the people of Sarawak under the Cobbold Report and the Inter-Governmental Committee Report which forms part of the 1963 Agreement.

In the circumstances SUPP says that this issue of the supremacy Federal Constitution in relation to State or Shariah laws must be re-examined and re-determined by the Federal Court in the light of The Malaysia Agreement 1963, which to the people of Sarawak remains paramount.