FT minister gets wider powers with religious affairs move

Sheridan Mahavera Sheridan Mahavera Updated 7 years ago · Published on 17 Jul 2018 7:00AM · 4 Comments

Masjid Jamek in Kuala Lumpur. Mosques, the mufti’s office, Zakat Department and Islamic Affairs Council will now come under the purview of the Federal Territories Ministry. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, July 17, 2018.

FEDERAL Territories Minister Khalid Samad will get wider powers and responsibilities after mosques and religious bodies in the Federal Territories were placed under the ministry.

The move, said Khalid, is to allow fellow minister Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa time to focus on crafting a more inclusive and progressive policy for Islamic affairs.

It is learnt that the new Pakatan Harapan government’s policy on Islam will be a departure from the former Barisan Nasional administration’s hard-line approach that had been criticised as insular and intolerant of other faiths.

Khalid will concentrate on managing the administrative aspects of these entities and ensure that the new government’s policy on Islam is implemented.  

“The prime minister does not want the religious affairs minister to be involved in administrative matters,” Khalid told The Malaysian Insight.  

“Instead, he wants the religious affairs minister to decide on the overall policy, philosophy and understanding of Islam for the country.”

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad wants to promote an approach to Islam wherein Muslims respected and defended other faiths, he said.

“Muslims should not think that Islam is out there to destroy all other religions. (They need) to accept the fact that there will always be people of different beliefs.”

Under the move, mosques, the mufti’s office, Zakat Department and Islamic Affairs Council will come under the Federal Territories Ministry.

These bodies were previously run by the national-level Islamic Affairs Development Department (Jakim), which was under the purview of the Religious Affairs Ministry.

The new structure will see the religious affairs minister overseeing national agencies, such as the Institute for Islamic Understanding, Islamic Missionaries Foundation (Yadim) and TV Al-Hijrah.

The cabinet is also debating whether to move the Federal Territories Religious Department (Jawi), which is still under Jakim, to Khalid’s ministry.

“I believe Jawi should be transferred to my ministry. We are still discussing it but I believe the issue will be resolved soon.” – July 17, 2018.

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Comments

  • Johor has already cut ties with Jakim. With mosques, the muftis office, Zakat Department and Islamic Affairs Council now under the Federal Territories Ministry, does Jakim still need RM1b a year to run its khalwat department?

    Posted 7 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply

    • Well said

      Posted 7 years ago by Jackal Way · Reply

  • What is the role of the heads of the States in this new scenario?

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

    • For show only. They never bothered when the religion was hijacked by extremists

      Posted 7 years ago by Jackal Way · Reply