THE Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has set up a special national-level committee called the Shariah Courts Empowerment Committee (JKMMS).

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

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

Othman said the JKMMS, to be chaired by Yusof Noor, would have two implementation committees, namely the steering committee and main committee.

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

Yusof, a former dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies and former deputy vice-chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, was Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department from 1987 to 1990 and was then Public Enterprises Minister until 1995. 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 Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355); management and structure of Shariah Courts; training of shariah judges and officers; shariah law education and shariah counsel affairs.

“Members of the committee have been identified and the official appointments will be made soon,” Othman said. – Bernama, August 10, 2017.