Syariah courts should not reveal cases, says Perak ruler

IPOH: The syariah courts need to be attentive and careful when exposing case proceedings to the public, in keeping with the requirement in Islam for a person not to be publicly humiliated.

“In syariah court proceedings, especially involving family and personal issues, it must be ensured that the good name of the family members, parents and children be protected from being sensationalised,” Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah said at the presentation of letters of appointment to 22 members of the Perak Religious Affairs and Malay Customs Council (MAIPk), nine members of the state Fatwa Committee and 10 syariah judges here yesterday.

“Noble values with a focus on rationality, wisdom, good manners and order enjoined by the religion should always be portrayed through actions taken in the name of Islam.”

Sultan Nazrin said it was worrying that the country’s Muslims had fewer assets and less wealth than non-Muslims.

“The situation is worrying as I have been informed that an estimated RM60 billion worth of assets owned by Muslims are nonproductive, in bank accounts and in the form of unclaimed insurance, besides assets that have been frozen because of faraid (distribution of estate) issues following the death of the asset owners,” he said, adding that he hoped MAIPk could resolve these problems.

“MAIPK, together with the Perak Islamic Religious Department (JAIPk), mosques, surau, government and private agencies, and the media should organise programmes on a big scale to educate Muslims on the matter.”

Besides ensuring effective distribution of zakat and exploring ways to eradicate poverty, Sultan Nazrin said, a customer-friendly method of collecting zakat should also be sought,

“There should be a more innovative aid module, which could free zakat recipients from the clutches of poverty and transform them into zakat contributors instead.”

Sultan Nazrin received, on behalf on MAIPk, business zakat contributions totalling RM2.68 million. He witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between MAIPk and the Association of Islamic Banking Institutions Malaysia on wakaf funds. Bernama