Govt considering ‘diyat’ concept to replace mandatory death sentence

KUANTAN – The concept of diyat (compensation to the families of victims following a serious offence) is being considered as a substitute for the mandatory death sentence and the matter wiIl be discussed at length, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Idris Ahmad.

He said should there be the need to set up a special committee, which would be handled by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, and the views of related parties would be sought on the matter.

“The concept of diyat is already in the book on jurisprudence, especially involving qisas (retaliation in kind)...for example if A murdered B, he is given three options, the first is the death penalty, the second is to pay diyat and the third to be forgiven.

“However, this matter is still in process and will be managed by the legal division,” he told a press conference after the state-level Multaqa Murabbi Ummah programme here today.

Also present were Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary and Pahang Islamic Religious Department director Datuk Zulkifle Ali.

Yesterday, Wan Junaidi in a special press conference informed that the concept of diyat was among the the punishments being considered as a substitute for the mandatory death penalty but the matter must be discussed with the relevant parties, such as shariah scholars.

Meanwhile, Idris said the federal government as a whole had channelled financial allocation of RM60.44 million to imams, bilal, siak, takmir teachers and Quran and Fardu Ain (Kafa) teachers in Pahang this year.

He said the plan to absorb Kafa teachers into permanent positions was still ongoing, adding that the committee involved had met with the relevant parties such as the Finance Ministry and the Public Service Department as certain procedures  must be followed before it could be implemented. – Bernama, June 14, 2022