KUALA LUMPUR – Addressing concerns that the Mufti (Federal Territories) Bill 2024 would turn Malaysia into an “Islamic state”, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil pointed out that the proposed legislation does not expand the powers of the Federal Territories mufti.
Instead, Fahmi clarified that after referring to the religious affairs minister, he understood that the bill ensures clarity and codifies the mufti’s role in the federal territories.
“At the same time, there is no expansion of the Mufti’s powers.
“We just want to make sure that there are no disputes in the future as to where the mufti’s powers are delegated from,” Fahmi said to reporters at the People’s Housing Project homes in Kerinchi, Pantai Dalam today.
Touching on a statement by 14 Borneo NGOs opposing the proposed legislation, Fahmi mentioned that provisions in the bill were no different than those in a 2004 Sabah state enactment regarding the powers of their mufti.
Fahmi said that despite Sabah having a similar law for 20 years, nothing in the state changed in terms of freedom of religion for non-Muslims.
“So before commenting, look at history. Sabah did this 20 years ago.
“We just want Islam for Muslims to be respected and organised from a legal and constitutional standpoint,” Fahmi added.
Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Religious Affairs Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar confirmed that the Mufti (Federal Territories ) Bill 2024 will be tabled for a second and third reading in this third parliamentary session beginning October 13.
Previously, the first reading of the proposed legislation was conducted in July and is one of three bills concerning Islamic affairs that are being tabled for amendments.
The bill drew significant backlash from certain quarters, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak, where NGOs claimed the law was an attack on Malaysia’s secular system. – October 12, 2024