BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Brunei introduced the full implementation of the syariah Penal Code Order (SPCO) 2013 from Wednesday.

According to an earlier statement from the country's Prime Minister's Office, the syariah law, apart from criminalizing and deterring acts that are against the teachings of Islam, also aims to educate, respect and protect the legitimate rights of all individuals, society or nationality of any faiths and race.

The statement read that Brunei, as a sovereign Islamic and independent country, has always been practicing a dual legal system, one that is based on syariah law and the other on civil law.

"In fully implementing the SPCO, both systems will continue to run in parallel to maintain peace and order and preserve religion, life, family and individuals regardless of gender, nationality, race and faith," said the Prime Minister's Office.