Jakim forms special committee to empower syariah courts

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has set up a special national-level committee called the Syariah Courts Empowerment Committee (JKMMS).

Jakim director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha, in a statement, said the committee was formed following a directive from the Cabinet at its meeting on Aug 4.

“Jakim, which has been given the mandate to establish the JKMMS secretariat, is entrusted with implementing the proposals contained in the directive for the purpose of empowering the syariah judicial system, in line with the position of Islam in the Federal Constitution,” he said.

Othman said the committee would be chaired by Tan Sri Dr Yusof Noor, who was Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department from 1987 to 1990.

He said the choice of Yusof as chairman was based on his calibre and wide experience in various fields.

Yusof is also a former dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies and former deputy vicechancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

He has also held various leadership positions in the corporate and higher education sectors.

“The committee will comprise eminent figures who are experts in various fields and some of them will be heading six clusters under JKMMS,” Othman said.

The clusters are harmonisation between civil law and syariah law; proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355); management and structure of syariah courts; training of syariah judges and officers; syariah law education and syariah counsel affairs.

“Members of the committee have been identified and the official appointments will be made soon,” Othman said.