The National Fatwa Committee needs to be reformed and tightened in their deliberations of issuing fatwa to retain their credibility among Malaysian Muslims. After all, fatwa are opinions derived based on the Al Quran, Sunnah and Hadith, and not Divine Revelations by Allah SAW to the committee members, who are scholars/legal experts, and not prophets.

As scholars/legal experts, before every fatwa is issued, the committee should seriously study the issue. Then come out with a written justification for the public record on how and why the fatwa is needed for the good of the Muslims.

The National Fatwa Committee should, perhaps, be something like the Supreme Court of the United States, where all the nine (9) Supreme Court justices have to give opinions on any legal issue before them. They may differ in their opinions, and there will be instances of five to four for the opposing decision, but the majority opinion is held and based on the principal of 'shura'.

As a Muslim, I wish to remind the National Fatwa Committee, not to mention all the kadis in our syariah court system, as well as the men and women in the federal and state religious departments, that every Sura in the Al Quran is preceded by 'In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, The Most Merciful'. I hope they remember this at all times in their decisions and actions in the name of Islam and Muslims.