A Study on Syariah Whipping as Punishment for Drug Dependents in Malaysia

By: Yuhanza Othman, Ida Rahayu, and Ekmil Krisnawati Erlen Joni

The government has introduced various programmes to rehabilitate and give treatment to drug dependent. However, statistic from Agensi Anti Dadah Kebangsaan (AADK) has shown that a number of drug dependents have increased annually. It is high time for the government to review and enhance the punishment for drug dependents. The Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 is silent on imposing punishment on a first offender. Therefore, this paper will examine on imposing whipping as punishment for drug dependent as provided by Syariah law. Adopting the application of qiyas, the rule and punishment of drinking liquor which is stated in the Qur’an (5:90) and the hadith is extended to consuming drugs. This paper seeks to discuss alternative methods to deter the public from drug abuse and at the same time to decrease the government expenditure in providing rehabilitation programmes and services for drug dependents.

Islamic perspectives relating to business, arts, culture and communication, January 2015