MEMBERS of a special committee to study issues involving federal and state jurisdictions, especially on the competency of state legislative assemblies in drafting shariah laws, will be named soon.

Religious Affairs Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said the list of individuals, including experts in legal and judicial matters as well as law practitioners, has been finalised.

“The committee needs a timeframe to resolve Islamic legal matters or issues related to state competency, especially in crafting Islamic law, and this timeframe will be set in the terms of reference after the appointment of the special committee members,” he said when winding up the Budget 2024 debate at the committee level at the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was replying to Ahmad Saad (Pokok Sena-PN), who asked on when the special committee would be set up, the individuals involved and the timeframe needed to resolve the religious legal matters.

In other developments, Na’im said the government is not considering privatising the halal certification process at this time and that the Malaysian Islamic Development Department and state Islamic Religious Councils remain the legal entities to provide halal certification for any product, food or service.

Meanwhile, proceedings got heated during the winding up session when Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (Pengkalan Chepa-PN) interjected with claims that Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming issued a confusing statement on the Palestine Solidarity Week held in schools.

This led to an argument between government and opposition MPs, including Lee Chuan How (Ipoh Timur-PH), Lim Lip Eng (Kepong-PH), R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong-PH), Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (Besut-PN) and Awang Hashim (Pendang-PN).

Marzuk refused to retract his statement even when instructed to do so several times by Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Alice Lau, which resulted in his ejection from the hall. – Bernama, November 6, 2023.