In response to DAP Beruas Member of Parliament Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham’s suggestion to appoint non-Muslim constitutional experts to the committee reviewing the Syariah Court’s jurisdiction, Umno’s secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki stated that allowing non-Muslim appointments in the Syariah committee would cause unnecessary controversy in Malaysia’s multi-religious society.
Asyraf emphasized that Umno firmly opposes Ngeh’s proposal for the appointment of non-Muslim experts in the committee to examine the powers of the Shariah Court in relation to the Federal Constitution.
Describing the suggestion as unnecessary and out of touch, Asyraf warned that it would only lead to unnecessary controversy and provoke debate within the multi-religious and multi-racial society.
Asyraf highlighted that the Federal Constitution has long stated that the Syariah Court is specifically for Muslims since Malaysia’s independence and called for trust and confidence in the committee, as they have been appointed by the Selangor Sultan, who also chairs the Islamic Affairs National Council.
He emphasized that the process of improving and elevating the Syariah Court has always been implemented gradually, within the scope of powers allowed by the Federal Constitution during Umno’s leadership of the previous government.
Furthermore, Asyraf stated that throughout the process of upgrading the Syariah Court, the rights of non-Muslim citizens have never been infringed upon or violated and he expressed belief that whatever the study’s outcome, it would not infringe on non-Muslims’ rights or exceed the jurisdictions provided by the Federal Constitution.
On the other hand, Ngeh had stressed the importance of appointing non-Muslim constitutional experts to the committee to ensure that non-Muslim views are considered regarding the provisions in the Federal Constitution before any proposals for legal changes are made.
In November, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the government’s plan to form a special committee authorized by the Conference of Rulers, with the committee’s formation officially announced on Dec 5.
He also mentioned that the rulers had agreed to the committee studying how to enhance the powers of the Syariah Court over Muslims without affecting non-Muslims and reviewing the competency of state legislatures in formulating Syariah laws.
The 11-member committee, headed by former chief justice Tun Zaki Azmi and including former federal court judge Datuk Seri Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Selangor Islamic council member Datuk Salehuddin Saidin, and Melaka Chief Syariah judge Datuk Nadzri Abdul Rahman, will also include representatives from the Attorney-General’s Chambers Syariah, the civil division, the constitutional research unit, and the International Islamic University of Malaysia, as well as the Malaysian Syariah Lawyers Association and a Syariah lawyer.
