الأخبار

By Farhana Syed Nokman, Ahmad Suhael Adnan - May 27, 2018 @ 7:15pm

KUALA LUMPUR: Federal level Islamic affairs should be managed by the Conference of Rulers to reinstate the dignity of the royal institution apart from empowering it.

Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) vice-president Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said the conference of Rulers should be the determinants of Islamic policies in the country, while the Islamic affairs agencies under the Federal Government act as executors.

This he said was to avoid agencies such as the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) being misused for political purposes, and sidelining the rights of the conference of Rulers.

“We have seen political intervention in agencies like Jakim, during the previous government, for example during the RUU355 issue," Mujahid said, referring to PAS’ private member’s bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.

“Supposedly the proposal should receive the consent from the royal institution before being brought to Parliament, but until now, I don’t think the proposal received consent from the conference of Rulers,” he said when contacted by NSTP today.

"Other institutions too were used to support certain political groups, without realising that those action went against the powers of the conference of Rulers," he added.

Elaborating further, Mujahid said the proposal to place Islamic agencies under the conference of Rulers did not mean that the institution would be directly involved in the daily affairs of the relevant agencies.

“Daily administration works, such as the management of the agencies and its finances, are carried out by the government, as long as it does not encroach or take over the powers of the Conference of Rulers."

Mujahid cited a previous allegation in which the Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YaPeim), was accused of abusing its funds. YaPeim had said they would offer full cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in their probe against the foundation.

"Things like this should not be allowed to happen anymore," Mujahid said.

Meanwhile International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) law lecturer Associate Prof Dr Shamrahayu Ab Aziz agreed to the suggestion as it would empower the king, in line with the Federal Constitution.

“Islam remains under the purview of the king and the conference of Rulers can play their part, but we still need the Federal Government to create a portfolio to retain one minister in charge of Islamic affairs.

"This is because the Federal Government has responsibilities in Islamic law," she said.

In related development, Shamrahayu opined that the call to abolish Jakim was not fair as its existence did not go against the Federal Constitution.

She explained that Jakim was originally a secretariat of the Islamic Affairs Council, created in 1968 with the consent of the conference of Rulers. It was later placed under the Prime Minister's Department.

Based on that, Shamrahayu said it was unfair to suggest that it be dissolved.

Sharing the same sentiment, Perak PKR chief Dr Muhammad Nor Manuty said the effort to depoliticise the handling of Islamic affairs and give more powers to the conference of Rulers was a good idea.

“As we know constitutionally, for each state, the ruler is the head of religion, it is mentioned in Pakatan Harapan's (PH) manifesto that we plan to reinstate the powers of the Sultan in a bid to strengthen Islam.

“Details must be further refined via a discussion between the government and the Council of Malay Rulers in order to ensure there are no misunderstandings between the the royal institution and the ministry in charge of religious affairs," he said.

PKR Youth Chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the matter was in line with the government's aspirations.

He however pointed out that there should be a balance between the roles of the conference of Rulers and the government.

“Religious affairs should not be politicized. We leave it to the experts, Rulers, scholars and ulama so that religion is inclusive and not seen as partisan," he said.