BETTER SCORE FOR SYARIAH INDEX
Govt initiatives in various fields have benefited the public, says Najib
TASNIM LOKMAN PUTRAJAYA news@nst.com.my
THERE has been a marked improvement in the overall score of the Syariah index, which gauges the country’s achievement in implementing Islamic policies and principles, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday.
He said there was considerable improvement, especially in the health, infrastructure, environment, economic and social fields.
He said the score in four other fields, namely education, politics, law and culture, remained at an encouraging level.
The overall score of the index for this year was 76.06 per cent, an increase of 0.64 per cent from the 75.42 per cent recorded in 2015.
In his speech when presenting the Malaysian Syariah Index Report 2017 at the Premier Conference of Ulama at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here yesterday, Najib said the figures were derived from studies involving 222 researchers from six public universities.
He said 27,292 respondents were involved, of which 2,280 were policymakers, 6,555 policy executors and 18,547 Malaysians in general.
“What is more interesting about the data is that the respondents included Muslims and nonMuslims, with 50 per cent of the Malaysian public aged 21 to 30, which is the TN50 (Transformasi Nasional) generation.
“This is an achievement that we hope would continue to drive the government in administering the country in line with Maqasid Syariah. The results of the 2017 Syariah Index are proof that the efforts and initiatives by the government have impacted and benefited the people,” he said.
Citing a few examples of the Syariah Index assessment based on the five principles, Najib said the health sector scored 92 per cent in terms of religious care, thanks to its initiative to provide praying areas (surau) at all 1Malaysia Clinics and government hospitals, and also provide affordable healthcare with check-ups for only RM1, consultation with specialists for only RM5 and free medication.
As for infrastructure and environment, he said a score of 86.7 per cent was given for continuously prioritising the lifesustaining aspects in solid waste management policies.
In the social field, a score of 82 per cent was given in terms of religious care in that the government had provided facilities for the people to carry out religious activities in accordance with the Constitution.
He said projects such as 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) and 1Malaysia People’s Housing (PR1MA), which came under the economic sector, had reduced the people’s financial burden.
In the field of politics, he said, the study on the aspect of care for religion worked out a score of 92 per cent for having successfully placed Islam as the religion of the federation in ensuring the political stability of the country.
He also announced a special contribution of RM2 million to Islamic non-governmental organisations.
Present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa and Islamic Development Department director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha.
Najib also presented the Lifelong Religious Personality Special Award to Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria for his role in promoting Islam in Malaysia.