Report By Special Committee On State Assemblies’ Competence In Enacting Islamic Laws Ready For Tabling

KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 (Bernama) -- The special committee to review the competency of the state legislative assemblies to enact Islamic laws has prepared a study report, which will be presented at the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) meeting and the Conference of Rulers for approval.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said the study covered various aspects, including the competency of state legislative assemblies to enact Islamic laws, the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court and the harmonisation of civil and syariah law.

“A briefing on the work of the Special Committee was presented at the 72nd MKI Meeting on Aug 23, 2024.

“To ensure a comprehensive study was carried out, the Special Committee held an engagement session with stakeholders,” he said during a question-and-answer session at the Dewan Negara today.

He said this in response to a question from Senator Musoddak Ahmad regarding the latest developments in the special committee’s study.

Mohd Na’im said the engagement sessions included discussions with the MKI Muzakarah Committee, state muftis, state Islamic Religious Councils, state Syariah chief judges, the Syariah Judiciary Department Malaysia, Islamic non-governmental organisations, as well as legal and constitutional experts.

“Such an approach can indirectly help the Special Committee examine all relevant aspects holistically, whether from the perspective of the Federal Constitution, civil and Syariah legislation, including Hukum Syarak, to produce a comprehensive study report,” he said.

Responding to a supplementary question from Musoddak regarding a proposal by an MP to include non-Muslim experts in the Special Committee, Mohd Na’im said it did not comprise non-Muslims, but several engagement sessions had been held with non-Muslim organisations.

In response to Senator Hussin Ismail’s supplementary question on non-Muslim involvement in drafting Islamic laws, he said that the special committee had consulted non-Muslim organisations to gather views on issues concerning them that did not involve Muslims.

Mohd Na’im said this included issues related to marriage and conversion to Islam, as well as issues that resulted in overlaps or conflicts between the Syariah and civil courts.

“The special committee acts as the primary reference in assessing the extent of jurisdictional overlap between the states and the federation,” he said.

-- BERNAMA