Govt reviewing existing acts under Syariah courts, including RUU355

Fuziah Salleh

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The government is reviewing several of the existing acts under the Syariah Courts, including the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act (or RUU355), to "uplift the institution", says Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Fuziah Salleh (pic).

She said these acts would be reviewed in depth and holistically before any decision was made.

"In relation to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act and other relevant laws, we are looking at them in more detail and … we are committed, ready to amend the act in empowering the Syariah Courts as a whole," she said during the oral question-and-answer session at the Dewan Negara sitting Tuesday.

She was replying to a question from Senator Datuk Husain Awang who wanted to know whether the government was willing to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act to enhance the status of the Syariah Courts.

Fuziah said in efforts to uplift the court's position, several other aspects were also taken into account, including harmonisation between syariah and civil laws, the competence of syariah judges and prosecutors, governance as well as infrastructure of the Syariah Courts. – Bernama