DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke today said the proposal by Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham, for the government to appoint non-Muslim legal experts into a special committee to study issues about the competencies of state assemblies in enacting Islamic laws, was a mistake and misunderstanding about the committee’s source of power.

Realising the proposal could spark controversy, as DAP would be seen as trying to meddle in Islamic legal affairs, Loke said this was untrue as the party was committed to the principle of respect and harmony among religions and ethnicities.

“The committee was established by the Malaysian National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI), chaired by the Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, and aims to advise the council with suggestions to empower and elevate the jurisdictions of shariah courts.

“It should be emphasised the establishment of this special committee is not determined by the cabinet but by MKI, and it reports directly to MKI. DAP respects the wisdom of His Royal Highness the sultan of Selangor in making any decisions regarding MKI affairs,” he said in a statement today.

Loke said any proposal by the special committee involving legal amendments must be brought to the cabinet for the usual process of legal enactments.

He said non-Muslim communities need not worry about this matter because legal amendments involving the rights of non-Muslims must be thoroughly discussed and finalised by the cabinet before being brought to parliament.

Yesterday, media reports said Ngeh proposed the government appoint non-Muslim experts to assist the special committee, established earlier this month, and to ensure non-Muslims’ views were considered before making any changes to the laws.

The proposal was slammed by Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who said there was no need for non-Muslim experts to be appointed to the committee.

Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan posted on X to echo Asyraf Wajdi’s sentiments, saying he believed members of the committee were experienced and competent in their respective fields, especially constitutional law, and would be able to conduct an objective study that went beyond considerations of their own ethnicities and religions.

“The committee’s suggestions or findings are not binding to the cabinet, and I believe all views and further engagement sessions will be conducted before any suggestions are accepted and implemented.

“There is no reason to say the views or suggestions presented to the government will be limited to one party,” he said, adding that all parties should give space to the committee to continue its tasks. – Bernama, December 29, 2023.