KUALA LUMPUR: The government engaged both Muslim and non-Muslim communities to increase understanding of the impending reforms of Syariah law in Malaysia, says the Deputy Religious Affairs Minister.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs), Dr Zulkifli Hasan, said that extensive engagements had been held with the relevant stakeholders to ensure the explanations provided were comprehensive and inclusive.
“We certainly pay attention not only to Muslims but also to the understanding of non-Muslims.
“Therefore, there have been engagement sessions with non-Muslim bodies, as reported and recorded by the Special Committee Examining the Competencies of the State Legislative Assemblies in enacting Syariah laws,” he said on Thursday (Oct 17) when responding to Suhaizan Kayat (PH-Pulai) who had asked if there was any advocacy efforts to explain the Bill for the non-Muslims.
Zulkifli said that the non-Muslim non-governmental organisations included in the discussions were the Christian Federation of Malaysia, National Evangelical Christian Fellowship Malaysia, the Malaysian Taoist Association, Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Malaysia Hindu Sangam, the unit for religious affairs in the Sarawak Premier Department and several other organisations.
"We acknowledge the necessity for detailed briefings that reach every layer of society," he said.
He also said that the committee had organised extensive engagement sessions to explain the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Amendment) Bill (RUU355), which included issues involving overlaps and conflicting jurisdictions.
“These briefings have included a broad spectrum of stakeholders such as state Islamic religious councils, the Bar Council Malaysia, the Syarie Lawyers Association, the Muslim Lawyers Association of Malaysia and various NGOs.
"Our intention is not politically motivated but aimed at dignifying and enhancing the Syariah judicial and legislative institutions in Malaysia," Dr Zulkifli said.
Earlier, he told the Dewan Rakyat that RUU 355 is expected to be tabled in the parliament, followed by the Syariah Court Bill (Federal Territories), aiming to empower the Syariah Courts.
“Both bills will be tabled in Parliament after receiving approval from the Cabinet to ensure that the aspiration to strengthen the Syariah Courts can be realised,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat.
