Efforts to Strengthen Syariah Courts Never Threaten Rights of Other Religions – Anwar

PUTRAJAYA: Any effort to strengthen the Syariah Court institution, including proposals to improve Article 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution, has never been intended to affect the rights of adherents of other religions.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the main objective of the amendment since it was introduced in the late 1980s was to strengthen the jurisdiction of the Syariah Courts in matters relating to Muslims, without interfering in the affairs of non-Muslim religions.

“We do not at all want to violate the rights of non-Muslims. What we want to uphold is justice and not deny the rights of non-Muslims in their religious affairs.

“The civil courts have no right to interfere in the affairs of the Syariah Courts regarding Islamic law and Muslim society. To me, that is very fair,” he said in a speech at the opening ceremony of the Syarie Legal Profession Convention 2026 here today.

He said he himself had given assurances to non-Muslim leaders when the amendment to Article 121(1A) was brought forward so that it would not be misinterpreted as an attempt to affect the rights of non-Muslim communities.

Anwar said he rejected claims that the Unity Government had neglected the agenda of strengthening Islamic institutions.

This is because, he said, every proposal related to the Syariah Courts brought to the Cabinet was given due consideration without being objected to by non-Muslim ministers.

“Throughout more than three years of my tenure as Prime Minister, there has not been a single proposal related to increasing allocations or the position of the Syariah Courts that was objected to by any minister, including non-Malay ministers,” he said.

At the same time, he said, to strengthen the syariah judicial institution, he proposed that a special discussion session be held involving the Attorney General, the Chief Justice, the chief judges of the Syariah Courts as well as representatives of the Malaysian Syarie Lawyers Association.

“This session is important to enable the government to examine proposals submitted by syariah legal practitioners in enhancing the capability and dignity of the Syariah Courts.

“Views that are deemed necessary and should be given attention, I will give priority to,” he said.

Kosmo Online