PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the proposed amendment to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) should not be done hastily.
He said that the proposed amendments should be scrutinised by relevant parties, including muftis and international experts.
He added that the proposal has been presented to the Chairman of the Chair of the National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs, Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak. "Last week, I had an audience with Sultan Nazrin, the new National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs chairman, and he has agreed with the early framework (of the proposed amendment) presented by the panel of experts which was also delivered to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar.
“Sultan Nazrin has expressed his readiness for further discussion (on the proposed amendment) during the upcoming MKI meeting at the end of August.
“This means that there has been progress and I hope that everyone, including the states, can see this positively,” he said on Monday (July 15). Anwar said this during his speech at the Convention to Uphold Malaysia's Syariah Judiciary and Legislation here.
He also said that he had asked the committee to oversee the amendment to get views from international experts which was also recommended by Sultan Nazrin.
“Based on our discussions, Sultan Nazrin said that it was recommended for the matter to be referred to international experts before reverted to the Attorney General’s Chamber (AGC), then get approval from the Councils of Rulers.
“I call on anyone who has the expertise to engage with us and discuss. I have also asked the committee to refer to international experts as well,” said Anwar, adding that the extra step was not purposely done to delay the amendment. Act 355 aims to enhance the jurisdiction of the Syariah Courts, which also includes the proposal to increase penalties for Syariah criminal offences.
During the same event, Anwar also expressed his commitment to expediting the proposed implementation of the Syariah Judges' Remuneration Act to elevate the status of Syariah court judges to be on par with that of Civil Courts judges.
He added that there was a need to balance between the Syariah Judicial Service Scheme and the Civil Judicial Service Scheme. "I was informed about the Syariah Judges' Remuneration Act. Now it is following the PTD (Administrative and Diplomatic Officer) scheme.
“I will ask Dr Na'im to speed up the adoption of the Syariah Judges' Remuneration Act, so that the status of Syariah Judges can be elevated," he said.
Also present at the convention were Dr Mohd Na’im and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
