DETAILS OF MALAYSIAN SYARIAH PROSECUTION DEPARTMENT BEING FINALISED - ZULKIFLI

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- Details on the establishment of the Malaysian Syariah Prosecution Department (JPSM) at the federal level are currently being finalised and will be submitted to the Cabinet for policy approval in the near future.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan said that once policy approval is obtained, the proposal will be tabled at the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI), before being presented to the Conference of Rulers for royal consent.

“The establishment of the JPSM is intended to serve as a specialised entity and reference centre for syariah crime prosecutions at the federal level, in addition to coordinating and standardising the implementation of syariah prosecutions nationwide, without affecting the autonomy and powers of the states, as provided under the Federal Constitution,” he said.

He was responding to a question from Dr Ahmad Fakhruddin Fakhrurazi (PN-Kuala Kedah), on the government’s readiness to establish a Federal Syariah Prosecution Department Act, to ensure that the Islamic prosecution function is strong and independent, similar to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat, today.

Zulkifli said that, at present, 13 states and the Federal Territories have fully separated the syariah prosecution function from their respective state Islamic religious departments, while Sabah is in the final stage of establishing the department.

Responding to a supplementary question from Ahmad Fakhruddin on the issue of the backlog of syariah criminal cases, Zulkifli said case management in the syariah courts has shown positive developments from 2019 to 2025, including improved efficiency in the registration and disposal of cases, following administrative enhancements and better coordination of existing systems.

-- BERNAMA