PARLIAMENT | Malaysia is ranked "very comfortably" in terms of the Malaysian Syariah Index (ISM), a yardstick that measures effectiveness in implementing national development based on the "maqasid syariah" principle, according to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom.

During the Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today, Mohamed Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) had questioned the effectiveness of the wasatiyyah (moderation) concept, for which the government claims credit.

However, at the same time, several controversies had happened, Azmin said.

These include recent contentious incidents such as the headscarf ban at a hotel front desk in Penang, controversial preachers Zakir Naik and Zamihan Mat Zin and the Muslim-only launderette in Johor.

"You said the prime minister has successfully implemented the wasatiyyah concept. But I want to ask how effective is the wasatiyyah brought by Putrajaya?" queried Azmin (photo), who is also Selangor menteri besar.

"We can see the incidents (that took place such as the operator of the) Muslim-only launderette and the actions of Zamihan, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) officer who insulted the Malay rulers.

"We can see how a hotel banned headscarves. Where is the effectiveness of wasatiyyah when the controversial preacher Zakir Naik freely receives support from the deputy prime minister (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi)?" Azmin questioned.

"The ISM is the yardstick by which the country measures its success," Jamil Khir (BN-Jerai) replied to Azmin.

"While we do not deny these incidents as these are the indicators which we should pay attention to, but (this must be done) in a scientific manner; we shouldn't look at one, two or three incidents.

"(We should) look at the yardstick by the government in the implementation of wasatiyyah and maqasid syariah (objectives of syariah law).

"We have achieved the index at a very comfortable level, a yardstick (created) by more than 100 professors from eight universities," Jamil Khir added.