He said the government was currently gathering feedback from various quarters, including the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the finance ministry, before submitting the proposal to the Cabinet and the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council.

“I have seen the working papers and they only need approval at our level (Cabinet).

“There is no need to bring it to Parliament,” he said after witnessing the accreditation of 53 Federal Territory shariah lawyers at the Federal Territory Shariah Court Complex here today.

Also present were Shariah Judiciary Department director-general Mukhyuddin Ibrahim, chief judge of the Federal Territories Shariah Court Ibrahim Deris, Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council secretary Mohd Ajib Ismail, Court of Appeal judges Mohd Amran Mat Zain and Mohd Radzi Abdul Latif, and chief registrar of the Malaysian Shariah Judiciary Department Noor Hadina Ahmad Zabidi.

Mujahid said the process of collecting the feedback was expected to be completed soon and it could be tabled to the Cabinet no later than early next year.

Asked whether the establishment of the court would be extended to other states, Mujahid said it depended on the provisions in the respective state constitutions.

Prior to this, Mujahid had proposed the establishment of the court to resolve the issue of ex-husbands not paying alimonies despite getting a court order to do so.

Earlier, in his speech, Mujahid told the shariah lawyers to perform their duties fairly in defending their clients’ rights.