Bid to upgrade Syariah judicial system

WANITA Umno will set up a steering committee to see that Syariah courts are elevated on par with civil courts including the setting up of a Syariah Bar Council.

Its chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the proposal was aimed at standardising and upgrading the nation’ Syariah judiciary system, particularly with regard to the distribution of the estate of the deceased to beneficiaries and widows.

“We strongly urge that the proposal to set up a five hierarchy Syariah court is sped up following approval by the National Islamic Affairs Council,” she said when opening the Wanita Umno assembly.

In the proposal, she added, laws are to be amended to make it mandatory for the estate of a deceased Muslim to be specifically handled by the Syariah court.

Shahrizat also said that Wanita Umno would champion the setting up of a Syariah Bar Council for Syariah lawyers.

“The Syariah Bar Council will be under the patronage and administration of the Council of Rulers to facilitate management of Syariah lawyers in their respective states,” she added.

Malaysian Syarie Lawyers Association president Musa Awang agreed with Shahrizat’s proposal to elevate Syariah courts.

Musa said there was an adequate number of Syariah lawyers to handle cases according to the Syariah courts’ jurisdictions.

There are around 2,500 to 3,000 Syariah lawyers, he said, adding that the number will automatically increase if the jurisdiction of Syariah courts are elevated.

“The problem we have in Syariah courts is we have to apply in 14 states to practise as Syariah lawyers and each state has different criteria, qualifications, examination and interview processes.

Musa also said he agreed to the formation of an independent Syariah Bar Council.