THE federal government will be reviewing the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), not abolishing it, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.

He said the matter was hotly discussed and there was some speculation that the Pakatan Harapan government wanted to scrap it.

“I am confident it won’t come to that,” he said, calling Jakim an important Islamic institution funded by hundreds of millions of ringgit.

“If the government thinks it needs review, it will surely be towards improving Jakim so it can function and carry out its role better.”

Saifuddin, who is also Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP, said times change and the challenges faced by Muslims changed with them, so Jakim would also have to meet the demands of the times.

He said Jakim’s job was not to combat vice, but to interpret Islam.

“It deals with the understanding of Islam, education, racial relations, economy and international relations from the Islamic perspective.

“It’s job is to translate Islam as a universal religion, a way of life. With its role so big, it hasn’t crossed my mind that the government would want to review Jakim just so it can scrap it.”

He said he would bring up the Jakim issue in tomorrow’s PH presidential council meeting.

“We discuss many matters in the meeting. If I have the opportunity, I will raise it. But I am confident Jakim is not going to be abolished,” he said in Bukit Mertajam today.

Jakim has, in recent years, earned a bad reputation. Yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said a committee would be formed to evaluate Jakim’s role.

He said the government would make sure Jakim would not portray Islam as a cruel and inconsiderate religion. – May 31, 2018.