KUALA LUMPUR: The special committee established to study the competencies of the state legislative assembly in enacting Islamic laws is also conducting a study on the jurisdictional conflicts between the Syariah and civil courts.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said this is to ensure that a comprehensive study is being conducted and all issues that are raised involving the conflict of jurisdiction between the Syariah court and the civil court are examined in detail.
The committee, concurrently, is also conducting a study on the interpretation found within the Federal Constitution, he said.
"This is to ensure all recommendations and views that will be made by the committee will take into account all relevant aspects, including Islamic legislation and Syariah law," he said in a parliamentary written reply on March 19.
Na'im said this in response to Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut) who enquired the latest update on the study done by the special committee.
Last December, an 11-member special committee was established to study the competencies of the state legislative assembly in enacting Islamic laws and the jurisdiction of Syariah court as provided for under Item 1 of the Second List (State List) in the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.
The special committee was established following a decree from the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah during the 70th National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs.
Na'im, meanwhile, also hoped that all parties could give space for the special committee to conduct the study and propose their views and suggestions.
"I believe that the study being conducted by the special committee can help to find the best solution to address the issues regarding the competence of the state legislative assembly to enact Islamic laws and the jurisdiction of the Shariah court as provided under Item 1 of the Second List (State List) in the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.
"At the same time, it must be noted that the issue of conflict of jurisdiction is a matter that must be carefully handled as it involves both state and federal jurisdictions."
