UMNO AGM Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil urged the government to set up a Syariah Lawyers Council to improve the administration of syariah law.

"If today we have the Bar Council, why can't we also have a Syariah Lawyers Council? Why wait so long? Isn't syariah law on the same level as civil law?

"I believe that with a Syariah Lawyers Council, the administration of syariah law in Malaysia will be improved," Shahrizat said in her policy speech to the Wanita wing at the Umno General Assembly at Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur today.

This call comes after several proposals to form an alternate body to the Malaysian Bar, following claims that the Bar Council is pro-opposition. The Bar has denied this.

Shahrizat, who trained as a lawyer, said the Syariah Lawyers Council should be under the Conference of Rulers' purview.

She also proposed that the syariah court be strengthened, including by appointing more female judges, bailiffs and providing more legal aid.

On a separate matter, Shahrizat expressed admiration for Umno president Najib Abdul Razak's spirit.

Urging the delegates to mirror Najib, she said the prime minister's "pure heart" was evident through his bid to improve the lives of Malaysian citizens.

"Wanita Umno must be wise in understanding the needs of the people. We must be brave to fight for the right to serve the people," she told 997 delegates at the Wanita Umno meeting.

Shahrizat said the party would remain strong despite challenges from splinter parties if Wanita continued to serve the people.

"Today's politics is not like politics 70 years ago. We are facing extraordinary challenges," she said.

Since the last annual general assembly, former deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin and former vice-president Mohd Shafie Apdal have formed splinter parties, which oppose Umno and BN.

Muhyiddin was sacked from Umno for being vocal against Najib and 1MDB, while Shafie resigned after he was suspended for the same reason.

The chairperson of Muhyiddin's party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), is Umno's longest-serving president, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Syariah lawyers body backs call

In an immediate response, Malaysian Syariah Lawyers Association president Musa Awang backed Shahrizat's call for a Syariah Lawyers Council to be set up.

"The problem practising syariah lawyers face today is that we are forced to apply in 14 different states (and in the Federal Territory) to practise as a syariah lawyer.

"In every state, the are different methods, qualifications, examinations, interviews and entry processes. This deters graduates from becoming syariah lawyers.

"Therefore, we agree with the proposal of a Syariah Lawyers Council, an independent body to facilitate and regulate the requirements of becoming a syariah lawyer, as well as the creation of a Syariah Legal Profession Act," Musa said in a statement today.

He also supported Shahrizat's call to empower the syariah court and put it on equal footing as the civil court.

Musa said this could be achieved by giving the syariah court more powers, including on criminal matters, inherited property and Islamic banking.