Ex-CJ to chair committee to look into issues on enactment on syariah law

KUALA LUMPUR - A former chief justice has been selected to chair the special committee to look into issues involving federal and state jurisdiction, particularly related to the competence of State Legislative Assemblies in the enactment of syariah law, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said among those to be appointed as members of the special committee are a former judge, representatives from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Syariah Judiciary, state Islamic religious councils, laws and constitutional expert, as well as civil and Syariah lawyers.

However, the minister did not name any of those individuals.

"The special committee is expected to hold its first meeting on Dec 4 to set the direction of the study and research, subsequently proposing solutions to legal issues related to Islamic law in Malaysia.”

Mohd Na’im said this in reply to Datuk Ahmad Saad (PN-Pokok Sena) who wanted to know the progress of the proposal by the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) regarding the establishment of a special committee to conduct a study on the competency of State Legislative Assemblies within the framework of the Federal Constitution, during Question Time.

Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government has agreed to set up a special committee sanctioned by the Conference of Rulers in a bid to empower and elevate the status of the Syariah Court.

He said the committee would conduct research, including discussions with muftis and all relevant parties, to gather views in order to formulate regulations that can be implemented to enhance the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court. - BERNAMA