The Malaysian Insight

ALL Islamic-linked agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department (PMD) have been restructured as part of a major rationalisation plan aimed at increasing efficiency and cutting down on expenditure.

Out of 12 agencies, seven will be now be placed under the authority of the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Islamic affairs, while Tabung Haji will remain under the PMD.

The restructuring is part of a complete PMD rationalisation plan that will be announced by Putrajaya ahead of the full cabinet announcement today, according to a letter approving the revamp signed by Chief Secretary Ali Hamsa and sighted by The Malaysian Insight.

According to the letter, four major Federal Territories religious departments and agencies will be moved to the Federal Territories Ministry from today.

They are the mufti’s office, Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP), the shariah prosecution department and the shariah courts.

Two agencies previously under the PMD – Al-Hijrah television station and the Malaysian Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) – will be placed under the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim).

The letter also states that two other departments – the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) and the Haj, Tithe and Wakaf Department (Jawhar) – and three Islamic-related foundations, which are Islamic Da’wah Foundation Malaysia (Yadim), Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (Yapeim) and Malaysian Wakaf Foundation, will also be placed under Jakim’s purview.

The five agencies were previously part of the 12 entities under the jurisdiction of minister in the prime minister’s department in charge of Islamic affairs. Jakim and Tabung Haji were also placed under the same portfolio.

Parit Buntar MP Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa is expected to be announced as the next Islamic affairs minister.

fter Barisan Nasional’s loss in the May 9 elections, there were rumours that the new administration would abolish Jakim, which has been strongly criticised as being too heavy-handed in its enforcement and policies and for receiving too large an allocation in its annual budget.

The department is also said to have overlapping jurisdictions with the administration of Islam under the respective state governments.

States in Malaysia have their own Islamic administration with the state’s sultan or ruler as the head of the religion, but Jakim, established in 1997 under the PMD, is in charge of coordinating Islamic administration in Malaysia.

On May 30, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said a new committee, which will include religious scholars and non-religious experts, would be formed to look into the role of Jakim.

He said the government would make sure Jakim does not portray Islam as a cruel and inconsiderate religion. – July 2, 2018.