Reform if you want to stay relevant, former boss tells Islamic department
SITI NURFATIHAH PIRDAUS
SHAH ALAM - Former religious affairs minister Datuk Seri Mujahid Rawa has told the present PAS minister to actively reform the Islamic department tostay relevant.
He said the department still needs a lot of reforms to stay relevant.
During his time before the sudden collapse of Pakatan Harapan (PH) in February 2020, he said there was a lot of reforms carried out such as the new act for syarie lawyers and administration for mosques.
He was referring to the approved Syarie Legal Profession (Federal Territories) Bill 2019 to establish the Syarie Legal Profession Qualifying Board, Syariah Lawyers’ Body and the Federal Territories Syarie Lawyers Council to ensure professional practices, behaviour and code of conduct is uplifted and carried out.
Under the bill, future syarie lawyers would have to undergo mandatory chambering for six months and familiarise themselves with the substantive laws and procedures which must be complied with in handling cases.
“The department still needs a lot of reforms and it should continue to reform if it wants to stay relevant,” he told Sinar Daily.
The Amanah vice president added the present religious affairs minister Datuk Idris Ahmad should work on implementing the reforms announced by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who recently announced that ex-husbands will soon be obliged to provide alimony or their bank accounts will be frozen if they fail to do so.
Mujahid said the department needs to review the Act to allow the finance ministry to recognise the decision of the Syariah Court.
Mujahid said that the Malaysian Syariah Judiciary Department (JKSM) has been given the task to consult and coordinate with Bank Negara's legal division and the finance ministry to make amendments.
This is to ensure that the decision made by the Syariah Courts will be recognised when freezing the bank account of the husband.
