
UPDATED
SUNGAI SIPUT, Aug 24 — The will-she-won’t-she guess game over Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno’s appointment with the cane continues with the latest pronouncement that the reprieve she received earlier today would be valid only be for the Ramadan period.
Now, she will still have to take six lashes for drinking beer as the Pahang religious authorities now promise that the punishment will be meted out after the fasting month.
The 32-year-old mother of two was earlier taken in a van from her Sungai Siput hometown to the Kajang Women's Prison for the punishment but she was brought back within 30 minutes after the Prison Department said there was a breakdown in communication and the sentence could not be carried out.
Pahang's Religious Affairs, Dakwah, Unity and NGOs Exco chairman Datuk Mohd Sahfri Abdul Aziz said the state religious department enforcement officers had issued a warrant of arrest for her to be sent to the Kajang Prison for the whipping.
“At the same time, they received a letter from the Attorney-General’s Chambers advising them to release Kartika temporarily as it was not advisable for her to undergo the punishment during the fasting month,” he said in Kuantan.
“The sentence remains. She will be caned after the fasting month. She has been released but only temporarily,” he added.
Kartika had earlier refused to leave the van that took her home as she wanted to know if it was a temporary reprieve.
“I will not come out without a black-and-white document explaining the status of what has happened. I am surprised and speechless,” Kartika told reporters.
And her father said the change of mind would ridicule Islam, which bans Muslims from consuming alcohol, Reuters reported.
“The warrant cannot be executed," Sharafuddin Zainal Ariffin, head of enforcement for Pahang's Islamic Affairs Department, told reporters after Kartika Sari returned to her house.
Both Kartika, a Malaysian who has two children and who had worked as a nurse in Singapore, and her father had called for the sentence to be carried out quickly and in public.
“We had already accepted the punishment,” Shukarnor Mutalib, told reporters.

written by lengcai, August 24, 2009
written by Alenac, August 24, 2009
written by uncertainty, August 24, 2009
written by Alex, August 24, 2009
Now, this woman has been spared caning for dirinking beer. What you have to say, UMNO? Or you're going to keep quiet about it?
written by tidur, August 24, 2009
Islam plastic who redicule islam !!
written by Paul Warren, August 24, 2009
written by soondar, August 24, 2009
Also, this change of decision clears proves whatever the Kelantan MB has been saying about their brand of Islam, - "Islam Plastik" - good for show only.
written by madguyho, August 24, 2009
written by ckh, August 24, 2009
written by Pgite, August 24, 2009
If they want to catch alcohol drinkers, go to the many pubs, clubs in KL alone. On some nights, you will even catch the future defenders of Islam (ala- the young princes & princesses).
Besides, there are other more pressing matters to fixed than to catch drinking Muslims. Like incest and rape. Smoking. Many of the Malays I know are social drinkers and social drinking is not too bad for their health. Smoking is. Go work with the Health Ministry and try to get smoking down first.
written by Steven Ong, August 24, 2009
written by greateagle, August 24, 2009
written by nb, August 24, 2009
I believe the Government chicken out after the news about the canning appears on CNN.
After the CNN news appear, my oversea friends immediately asked me: Are you from Malaysia?
Malaysia is now famous in the world as an intolerant hardcore Islam country. Congratulation and thank you to UMNO and PAS. UMNO and PAS, please continue to work together to turn Malaysia into another Iran and Saudi Arabia. I am sure Malaysia will be the admiration of the world like Iran and Saudi Arabia.
written by puzzled, August 24, 2009
Merdeka-merdeka Negara Ku Malaysia
Rakyat Hidup Aman Damai
Melayu China dan India
Tiba-tiba Hishamuddin melambai keris 'ia
Hurray!!!!Negaraku Malaysia
Kalau nak mampus undilah dacing
Tunggu sekejap aku nak kencing
Harap Maaf Siaran Tergendala Sebentar
shhhhh........
shhhhhhh...........
Kepada pati BN katakan mayat
Undilah Parti Rakyat.
Merdeka!
Kita Suka!
Kartika!
written by The_Rakyat, August 24, 2009
written by 989say, August 24, 2009
The Holy religion will never and can never be "ridicule".
If there is a change of mind it is the officer/s (human) who made that decision!!
We can only ridicule the ACTION of the officer/s NOT THE RELIGION!
Get better qualified people to do the job.
written by moolala, August 24, 2009
written by leslie fong, August 24, 2009
Govt, is chicken out...want to save face..compromise the law for themselves.
So dont take loud if you cant face it..especially Utusan editors,please.
Be a good muslims..love & forgive others.
written by Narcosis, August 24, 2009
written by Whatsay U?, August 24, 2009
written by Malaysian, August 24, 2009
written by kosan, August 24, 2009
Another political game??
Please comment if anyone has some clue...
written by ablastine, August 24, 2009
written by otak_kosong, August 24, 2009
Where is the rule of law?
We must uphold the law irrespective the circumstances. The court must void the discrepancies and spank the lady. The court has already decided and the sentence must be carried out. If she wants to be spank in the public for all to see, so be it.
Why is the various religious bodies keeping so quiet? Now is the time for them to stand up and be counted, to uphold the Syariah Law. Walk the talk. Do something substantial instead of stealing dead bodies.
written by arthur, August 24, 2009
written by ken, August 24, 2009
written by anakmalaysia, August 24, 2009
Now convicted and subjects to canning, the authority back out perhaps due to compassionate ground.
It this what the UMNO's KJ's have been barking lately, and not in Selangor but Pahang the BN ground. This is what BN is good about. Said one things and do another. Where is KJ's now?. He should comes out now and starts barking louder to the Pahang Authority.
Yeah Kartika should file a suits against Pahang Government for breach of laws by convicted her of the wrongdoings and now backing out from the punishment. Let them see red faces over their inconsistency in abiding the laws.
It this how Islam's preaches?
I feels ashamed.
written by Disappointed, August 24, 2009
written by ziggy, August 24, 2009
Those childrens of those Big Wigs living overseas were even worse off than Ms Kartika in drinking
beer, they drink all sorts of hard liquors. Maybe thats why they choose to back off.
written by amoker, August 24, 2009
written by nath, August 24, 2009
written by Mizani, August 24, 2009
They go all the way, all the trouble just to cane a women a prove a point. Wonder - if all that effort and money can be used to deter other more serious things ?..............
written by Dragon, August 24, 2009
written by Peminat Wayangkulit, August 24, 2009
Kena main main macam boneka
Semasa bulan Ramadan pula
Tak bolih cari aman damai setika!
written by arthur, August 24, 2009
written by nb, August 24, 2009
Congratulations and thank you to cowards of UMNO (and some in PAS and the royalty) for the sharia laws (for common people only). Malaysia next goal is to over take Iran and Saudi Arabia. After over taking Iran and Saudi Arabia, the next level will be Taliban standard.
I am sure now many more investors are keen to invest millions of money in Malaysia; many more tourists will love to visit Malaysia; many more Malaysians will live happily ever after.
One more tip for free "advertisement" to raise profile of Malaysia even higher . I am sure the Malaysia "peeping" squad can catch some common people (only) that commit an offence which the sharia law will sentence public stoning. This will put Malaysia on the front page of major news network for free for days if not for weeks.
written by malayguy, August 24, 2009
We wish not to be interrupted nor make inconvenience to other religions as well,we believe all judgement should be only made by GOD.
Please take notice of us and do not label us the conservative as the existing ones~ Kartika is an example : )
Cheers~
written by fr00evr, August 24, 2009
written by jijot ni, August 24, 2009
muslims are drinking beer daily in KL penang JB ipoh melaka by the millions but non is being caught.
written by Robert, August 24, 2009
I would love to see some ministers get whip in public and that will teach all politicians to leave religion alone.
written by Kane, August 24, 2009
In the West, Alcohol and Sex ain't banned as what some nations do in the name of religion but they focused to apply their energy and resources on Justice, Economy, Education and Health Care. Today while Malaysian GDP per capita is about US$ 15000 while that of Singapore is not less than US$ 50000. A country lack of human & natural resource. While Singapore's top university NUS is ranked 30 and NTU ranked within 1 to 70, University Malaya is declining to rank of 240. People need to be smart enough to understand what and who brought their lives down, what and whom should be removed and taken action. But it appeared people are getting smarter than ever and some power craving people are still trying to dig in and entrench. I hope people are smart enough to counter Manipulations.
written by megabigBLUR, August 24, 2009
I follow a different religion than her, but I hope God will continue to grant her courage and peace in her heart.
written by two cents, August 24, 2009
Ja lah, Msia very boleh. CNN, UK newspapers (Telegraph/Independent), Oz, NZ now all know Msia Boleh cane woman for drinking beer, Boleh produce Top terrorist Noordin, PM & other ministers boleh corrupt no case, Msia boleh look down on kafir as 2nd class. Wonder why investors prefer tiny Singapore now?
written by Do U want a Taleban state ?, August 25, 2009
written by kooler, August 25, 2009




