Jakim now under the purview of the Conference of Rulers

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has been placed under the purview of the Conference of Rulers. 

A source confirmed with The Vibes that Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah will head the council overseeing Jakim. 

 It is understood Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will sit as the council’s deputy, with the decision made by the Malay rulers earlier today. 

Reports had claimed 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.

The new arrangement will see Jakim no longer reporting to the Religious Affairs Department under the Prime Minister’s Department.

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.

“There were occasions when Jakim’s own rules or interpretation of Islam were contradictory to the stand of the rulers, so it was only appropriate that the religion should come under the Malay rulers who are rightfully the custodians of Islam,” said a source.

 Commenting on the issue was Umno’s Padang Rengas MP and former law minister Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz, who said the transition out of the Prime Minister’s Department was a good move to remove possible political interference within Jakim’s directives. 

He agreed that Jakim could be subject to tighter scrutiny as compared with their time under the Prime Minister’s Department, saying the rulers would act fairly in the interest of their subjects and not based on political agendas. 

“Nowadays, the prime minister can change anytime and there is no more consistency like last time; under the Prime Minister’s Department they would be the subject of politicking.  

“I think it’s better; we also know this because subjects of the state will certainly be taken care of by the sultans,” he told The Vibes. 

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 Prime Minister’s Department since its formation. – The Vibes, March 10, 2022