Report on special committee’s review of state assemblies’ competency to enact Islamic laws ready by end-2024

KUALA LUMPUR (June 27): The study report by the Special Committee to Review the Competency of the State Legislative Assemblies to Enact Islamic Laws is expected to be completed before the end of the year.Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan said the report will be presented to the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) and the Council of Rulers upon completion.Zulkifli said the committee has been actively working and has held 22 meetings so far.“The committee will prepare a comprehensive report that includes the study results and perspectives on all relevant issues within a period not exceeding one year. Insya-Allah, the report will be ready before the end of the year,” he said during the question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday.Zulkifli said this in reply to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (PN-Pagoh), who inquired about the latest developments concerning the establishment of the said special committee, and for the committee to study issues related to the term “Allah”.A special committee was established in December last year to study issues involving federal and state jurisdictions, specifically the competency of the state legislative assemblies in drafting Islamic laws and the jurisdiction of the shariah courts as provided for in the Federal Constitution.To ensure a comprehensive study, Zulkifli said that engagement sessions were held with various stakeholders, including the Muzakarah Committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs, state muftis, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council, the Federal Territories Mufti’s Office, the Negeri Sembilan Mufti Department, the Sarawak Syariah Justice Department, as well as legal and constitutional experts.In addition, the special committee will conduct an engagement session with the Malaysian Syariah Judicial Department (JKSM) and the chief shariah judge, scheduled for July 19.Regarding the issue on the word  “Allah”, Zulkifli noted that the policy proposal on its use by non-Muslims was presented to MKI on Aug 28, 2023, and had received approval from the Council of Rulers on Oct 25, 2023.“At the same time, the Home Ministry is also in the process of enacting new legislation regarding this matter, in line with the policy set by the Council of Rulers, as authorised by the Printing and Publishing Act 1984,” he added.For more Parliament stories, click here.Uploaded by Liza Shireen Koshy