Govt Seeks To Enhance Syariah Judicial System, Judges’ Status

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- The government is working to strengthen the Syariah judicial system and elevate the status of Syariah judges through a study on proposed laws paving the way for the establishment of the Malaysian Syariah Judiciary Commission.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said the laws being reviewed include the Syariah Courts Act, the Syariah Judicial Appointment Commission Act, and the Syariah Judges Remuneration Act. The government is also considering a special retirement scheme and legislation for Syariah judges.

He said the MADANI government, through the Department of Syariah Judiciary Malaysia (JKSM), is working towards setting up the Malaysian Syariah Judiciary Commission under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).

“At present, a detailed study is being carried out by a drafting committee with the involvement of relevant agencies to ensure the implementation is in line with state jurisdictions and the existing legal structure,” he said when winding up the debate on the 2026 Supply Bill at the policy stage for the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He added that proposed amendments under the Syariah Judges Remuneration Act include raising the retirement age for Syariah judges from 60 to 66 years

“This proposal is still being discussed. For now, until the new Act is introduced at the federal level, Syariah judges are still governed by the existing public service retirement law, which sets the retirement age at 60,” he said.

On the structure of the Syariah judiciary, he said the government is also studying the establishment of a new court level - the Syariah Supreme Court, as already implemented in Perak and Sabah.

“Insya-Allah, this proposal will be included in the Syariah Courts Bill, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament next year. One of the main amendments is to create another court level above the Syariah Court of Appeal for the Federal Territories,” he said.

Mohd Na’im also said the government supports efforts to make Pusrawi Hospital a Syariah-compliant hospital that offers treatment based on compassion and mercy.

He added that the government is planning to expand the Syariah-compliant hospital concept to other Islamic healthcare institutions.

“This effort also aims to strengthen the use of zakat and waqf health funds while working with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to improve the Islamic healthcare system in the country,” he said.

-- BERNAMA