Religious leaders want Section 377 to stay, activist wants debate on topic

PETALING JAYA: Opinions seem to be split among religious leaders and activists on a call for Section 377A and 377B of the Penal Code, relating to persons engaging in carnal intercourse against the order of nature, to be repealed.
Pahang mufti Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Osman said repealing the law would mean encouraging more people to commit such acts, noting that performing sodomy is considered a huge sin in Islam.
"We hope the government of the day does not listen to these voices asking for a change that could only harm society. What we should do instead is provide explanation to them, like in the case of drug abuse," he told theSun.
Abdul Rahman stressed that there was also no need to discuss the issue at the federal level as it was something considered to be "definitely wrong" under Islamic teachings.
Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) president Datuk R. S. Mohan Shan questioned the need to amend the law for something considered to be "against the course of nature".
"There's nothing wrong with punishing anyone committing an offence that is against nature's order. Even religions don't allow for such things," he said.
Mohan added that the law does not breach any human rights provisions, while pointing that the sentencing was up to the court after going through due process.
They were responding to an open letter by one Chris Rayan who called for Section 377A and 377B to be repealed, calling the law "oppressive and unjust".
PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was among those to have been charged and sentenced under the law.
Meanwhile, women's rights activist Ivy Josiah opined that consensual sex between two adults should not be criminalised and that while many might not be ready to accept such a move, it was only fair to hear views from all quarters.
In claiming that not all religious groups share the same opinion, she suggested that an open debate be conducted to determine why some quarters consider the law to be outdated and not in line with human rights standards.
"We should not shut down anyone or any group advocating or the repeal of these sections of the Penal Code. Let's be open and talk to each other," she added.