KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 ― Muslims should not make fun of hudud which is Allah’s law, Kelantan Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad said following the uproar over a satirical BFM video on the strict Islamic penal code.

Mohamad Shukri also warned that such actions could weaken the faith of the individual who made fun of the law, especially if it was done consciously, and urged the video presenter to return to the right path.

“It (making fun of Allah’s law) could harm the doer... there are some parties that consider this matter to be trivial, but in Islam, it is serious and requires guidance, it’s not impossible until it causes terkeluar (falling out) from religion.

“I advise (the presenter) to return to the right path, if we don’t know clearly a law of Allah, find the solution, learn from those who are qualified, that is the scholars, don’t make fun of Allah’s law,” he was quoted saying by Malay-language daily Sinar Harian.

According to the Sinar Harian report, the mufti was weighing in on the video presented by BFM’s Aisyah Tajuddin, who has since received death and rape threats, as well as various insults from Internet users.

Mohamad also reportedly likened the criticism of hudud to insults against the sun, rivers and other creations of Allah that benefit humans, pointing out that the Islamic law was likewise created by God for the benefit of Muslims and should not be mocked.

“If we ourselves (Muslims) don’t respect the laws of Allah, how can we want non-Muslims to respect and understand our religion. Don’t because of us, others can insult the religion and laws of Allah, to the doer, quickly repent,” the state Islamic scholar said.

The video “Hudud Isi Periuk Nasi? [Kupas]” (Does hudud fill our rice bowls?) was uploaded on business radio station BFM’s website and Youtube channel on Thursday.

In the video, Aisyah points out that even as Kelantan is attempting to implement hudud, the east coast state is facing other problems like its homeless flood victims, as well as increasing drug and divorce cases.

BFM later removed the video and apologised for any offence caused, saying that it was not meant to question the “desirability” of the Islamic penal code, but that it was a satirical commentary on whether hudud’s implementation should be Kelantan’s top priority in light of economic issues and problems faced by flood victims.

BFM also condemned the threats against Aisyah, stressing that she was merely a stand-in cast member of the video and not a regular presenter. It also said Aisyah did not author the script and the video’s views are not a reflection of her personal stance.

Yesterday, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said preliminary checks found that the video’s contents have not reached the level of being seditious and was more of an individual’s personal opinion regarding the implementation of the strict Islamic penal code in Kelantan.

But he said police would launch a probe if reports were lodged.

Earlier today, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang questioned Khalid’s silence on microblogging site Twitter so far regarding the threats against Aisyah, noting that the IGP usually responds swiftly when ordering probes on opposition leaders and activists.

Yesterday, Aisyah's father Professor Dr Mohamad Tajuddin Mohamad Rasdi penned a letter published by The Malaysian Insider asking if Malaysia was no longer a safe place to live in if simply expressing opposing views attracted such dangers as rape and even death.

Kelantan, administered by Islamist party PAS, passed amendments to the Shariah Criminal Code II 1993 on Thursday in a bid to enforce hudud law in the state ― despite fierce opposition from its PR allies, the DAP and PKR.

PAS is expected to table private members’ bills in Parliament to remove legal roadblocks in the implementation of the Islamic penal code that punishes apostasy with the death penalty and theft with amputation of limbs.