The views of several mufti that pregnant women infected by the zika virus can go for abortion if the fetus is below 120 days old is personal in nature.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the matter must be discussed at the state fatwa committee level and the Muzakarah (Conference) of the Fatwa Committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs in Malaysia to come up with a ruling.

"Views have been expressed, and so long as they are not edicts, we need to wait until the muzakarah discusses the matter," Asyraf Wadji told reporters after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Department of Syariah Judiciary Malaysia (JKSM) and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) at the Syariah Court in Putrajaya today.

Prior to this, Federal Territories mufti Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri was reported to have said that an abortion should be done if the fetus could bring difficulty, sadness and suffering to the family.

The view was also concurred by Negri Sembilan mufti Mohd Yusof Ahmad who said an abortion was a must if the risks were confirmed by medical experts, with the agreements of the father and mother.

In a follow up, Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam urged the National Fatwa Council to discuss the views of the mufti to arrive at a consensus on abortion for women infected by the Zika virus.

On the MOU, Asyraf Wajdi said the cooperation involved training, studies and research in the legal field and facility to continue studies at the master and doctorate levels for JKSM staff.

"This is an important cooperation in the effort of the government to boost capability and to continue the agenda of upholding the national syariah judiciary system," he said.

- Bernama