Mujahid Yusof Rawa, the minister in charge of Islamic affairs, said the High-level Committee on Federal Institutions of Islamic Affairs was endorsed by the Cabinet, and would not be duplicating the works of the committee chosen by the CEP to propose reforms of Islamic bodies.
“There is no duplication with CEP. This committee is concerned with Islamic administration at the federal level,” he said, adding that it was a “one-off” committee which could last several months.
The committee comes directly under the Conference of Malay Rulers, where the office of the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal will act as its secretariat.
It is headed by former chief secretary to the government, Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, alongside two academics and two former top Islamic officials, including the former director-general of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).
Earlier this month, FMT reported that the CEP had gathered several Muslim scholars and activists, who were tasked with drafting a proposal on reforms of Islamic bodies.
A source told FMT today that the new committee under the sultans, while seen as overlapping the CEP’s own team, would also have more clout as matters of Islam fall under the Malay rulers.
“This could be a sign that conservatives are not going to allow easy passage for reforms of Islamic institutions,” the source told FMT.
Over the years, Muslim leaders have questioned state Islamic authorities, especially Jakim, over what is perceived as their penchant for imposing a more rigid form of Islam in the country.
Influential government religious officers have also been blamed for a spate of controversial religious rulings as well as the banning of hundreds of books over the years on the topic of Islam.
Jakim has also come under the microscope, with leaders in both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan calling for its dismantling, saying its powers are against the constitutional provision that matters of Islam come under the purview of state rulers.
New ‘Islamic reforms’ team under sultans makes CEP’s committee redundant?