The decision by the Fatwa Committee of the National Council For Islamic Religious Affairs in not accepting the appointment of non-Muslims as Syariah lawyers is apt and should be accepted, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said.

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He said that to be a Syarie lawyer, a  person had to have in-depth knowledge and understanding on Islam to be able to handle syariah cases properly.

The requirement was not confined to just having a degree or qualification in Islamic or syariah law, he told reporters after opening a programme organised by the Islamic Economic Development Foundation of Malaysia (Yapeim) here today.

Jamil Khir said it would create problems if non-Muslims were allowed to become syarie lawyers because action could not be taken against them if they were found to be in contempt of court as action could not be taken against them under the syariah law.

"If it is not controlled, it can stir an outrage which can undermine the syariah judicial system itself," he added.

In another development, Jamil Khir said the government was targeting to set up Ar-Rahnu branches, which would be managed by Yapeim, in all parliamentary constituencies nationwide by 2015.

 

Ar-Rahnu is an Islamic-based pawn broking business.

Currently, there were 100 Ar-Rahnu branches nationwide and they not only attracted Muslims, but also non-Muslim traders, he added.

Keeping eye on Shi’ites

Meanwhile on another matter, the Home Ministry will obtain information from foreign countries on those involved in spreading Shi'ite teachings to Malaysians to ensure they are also not involved in terrorist activitists.         

Its minister, Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, said Malaysia would seek the cooperation of countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Indonesia and Singapore for the information.    

Although the Shi'ite members detained recently for deviationist teachings do not pose a threat to the country's security, the government is monitoring the situation to ensure their teachings do not contain elements of terrorism."       

He said this to reporters after launching a community policing programme involving the police, People's Volunteer Corps (Rela), Civil Defence Department and the local community in Pandan Indah, Ampang, today.  

On Thursday, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department detained 200 Shi'ite followers in an operation at a shoplot in Taman Sri Gombak, Batu Caves, near Kuala Lumpur.             

- Bernama