Najib: Malaysia's syariah index score improves

PUTRAJAYA: The country's national syariah index score improved this year to 76.06% compared with 75.42% two years ago, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The index launched in 2015 is the first of its kind in the world and in which a scientific measurement system is used to evaluate the compliance level of a government's policies towards the values of the maqasid syariah (objectives of Islamic principles).

The principles are protection of the religion, protection of life, protection of the mind, protection of the race and protection of property.

"Several important findings in the 2017 syariah index score proves that the Government's efforts and initiatives have been impactful for the rakyat," the Prime Minister said in his speech at a gathering here with more than 2,000 ulama, umara (leaders) and Muslim NGOs on Thursday.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and other government leaders including Ministers and Mentris Besar.

The index measures Malaysia's compliance in various fields, namely education, economy, politics, health, legal affairs, infrastructure and environment, culture and society.

Najib explained that the 2017 syariah index measurement involved 222 researchers from six local universities.

A total of 27,292 Malaysians from various religious faiths were selected as respondents in the index.

Half of the number of respondents were aged between 21 and 30.

Najib expressed hope that the National Transformation Programme will be able to adopt elements of the maqasid syariah, in line with the implementation of the Malaysian Syariah Index.

He listed the various Government assistance in promoting the cause of Islam and helping Muslims since he became Prime Minister in 2009.

They include the haj sponsorship programme by the 1MDB Foundation, which the Prime Minister described as the best such programme in the world, having benefited more than 5,000 recipients so far.

"Our development model may be Western in terms of its objective but as an Islamic country, we administer our nation by ensuring that we meet the requirements of maqasid syariah," said Najib.