PETALING JAYA: The placement of Islamic Development Department (Jakim) officers in government agencies and departments will be further discussed by the Bureau of Religious Issues Management and Mediation Committee (BRIMMC), says the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST).
This comes after the MCCBCHST raised its concerns over the proposal during a meeting with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar and National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang in Putrajaya on Wednesday (Sept 18).
"At the meeting, the MCCBCHST had reiterated its concerns that Jakim officers placed in government departments may influence government policy development and decisions to align with Islamic principles and thus may affect the rights of non-Muslims.
"It further stated that such a role in policy development and decisions would be outside the scope of the constitutional role of Islam.
"Any decision to be lawful must be intra vires of the constitution," MCCBCHST said in a statement on Friday (Sept 20).
MCCBCHST added that assurance was also given by Mohd Na'im that Jakim officers would not be involved in any policy matters.
"It was then agreed in the meeting that this matter of placement of Jakim officers could be further discussed at the BRIMMC which falls under the Harmoni Committee," the council said.
MCCBCHST described the meeting with the ministers as very cordial and conducted in a harmonious atmosphere.
Following the meeting on Wednesday (Sept 18), Mohd Na'im said that the BRIMMC would be set up under the purview of the Inter-Religious Harmony Committee (Harmoni).
He said the meeting was held to provide MCCBCHST with a proper explanation regarding the proposal and was done as part of the “good governance” policy practised by the unity government.
Meanwhile, Aaron Ago said there had been no increase in the placement of Jakim officers under the federal government.
He said that there are 1,250 Jakim officers currently who mainly focus on Islamic affairs without any role in the enactment of policies of government departments and ministries.
Harmoni was set up on Aug 14, 2020, to replace the Committee to Promote Inter-Religious Harmony and Understanding Among Religious Adherents (JKMPKA), which was dissolved on Dec 31, 2019.
The 30-member Harmoni Committee comprises three representatives from the government, 10 representatives of Islam, four representatives each of the Buddhist and Christian faiths, as well as two representatives each of the Hindu and Taoist religions, along with a representative each from the Sikh and Baha'i faiths as well as Sarawak's Unit for Other Religions (Unifor).
