Jakim still under PM’s Dept: minister

KUALA LUMPUR – It is inaccurate to say that the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) is no longer under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Department (PMD), said Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Idris Ahmad.

He told the Dewan Rakyat today that Jakim is the secretariat for the newly minted national religious council – reportedly headed by Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah with the prime minister as deputy.

Idris said Jakim remains under the purview of the PMD’s Religious Affairs Department.

Separately, he said a discussion on several judicial reviews against shariah court decisions was held with Islamic law experts and academicians, and their views will be submitted to the relevant government bodies, including Jakim.

Last week, a source confirmed with The Vibes that Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah will head the council overseeing Jakim.

Reports had claimed that the council is set to be called Majlis Agama Nasional, or National Religious Council.

Originally, the council was known as Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Hal Ehwal Ugama Islam Malaysia (Malaysia’s National Islamic Affairs Council – MKI) where it was chaired by the prime minister.

According to sources, the decision was made to streamline the administration of Islamic rules and principles and to shield the agency from being used as a political tool.

Established in 1968, Jakim initially existed as just a secretariat arm within the Prime Minister’s Department overseeing the religious affairs in the country, before being upgraded and rebranded as the Prime Minister’s Department’s Religious Department in 1974.

It was again renamed to the Islamic Affairs Department in 1985, and later as Jakim in 1997.

Prior to today’s realignment, the agency had been operating under the purview of the PMD since its formation. – The Vibes, March 17, 2022