BUKIT MERTAJAM – The special committee to study issues related to the competencies of state legislatures in enacting Islamic laws is open to discussions with all quarters, including political parties.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the committee would study all views and suggestions before proceeding to the next stage.
“Yesterday, former chief justice Tun Zaki Tun Azmi presented an initial briefing before the sultan of Selangor (Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah). In a meeting (before), I have also agreed for the special committee to convene and meet with all quarters, all states, or any (political) party, to discuss the matter openly,” he said at the opening ceremony of Masjid Jamek Tengah Berapit here today.
Anwar said that it was better for certain parties that have been criticising and accusing the government of not defending the shariah courts to participate in the committee’s discussions rather than turning the recent invalidation of certain provisions in Kelantan’s shariah criminal code into a political controversy.
“Once we have an agreement, we’ll bring it to the cabinet and present it to the Conference of Rulers. If it is consented, we enact it in Parliament, ask Malay friends (Muslim MPs) for support, amend, and improve the quality of the shariah courts, that should be the way,” he said.
Anwar said that the responsibility of empowering the jurisdiction of the shariah courts through this special committee does not only involve states but extends to all levels.
“Give us the chance to improve. Let’s not quarrel about this issue, and accuse me of being indifferent, secular, and so on,” the prime minister said at the event, which was also attended by the Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
Last December, Zaki was appointed chairman of the special committee to study issues related to the competencies of state assemblies in enacting Islamic law.
Yesterday, Anwar reportedly said that the federal government welcomed Sultan Sharafuddin’s decree calling for all parties to respect the decision of the Federal Court and the position of the Federal Constitution as the supreme law of the country.
He said that the decree of the Selangor ruler, as Chairman of the National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs, also came at the right time to reduce the rising political heat following the Federal Court’s decision on February 9 in declaring 16 provisions under the Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code Enactment 2019 null and void. – February 16, 2024