We have bigger role now, dealing with Shia, Isis threat, says Jakim

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki says Muslims must have faith in the role of Jakim in addressing various religious issues in the country. – The Malaysian Insider pic, November 9, 2015.The Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) today faces more challenging tasks, dealing with Shia and liberal Islam issues and the Islamic State (Isis) threat, the agency said in response to calls for it to be abolished.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Senator Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said: "Jakim's role is no longer just about protecting the sanctity of Islam, but also addressing global conflicts and issues."

As such, he said, the existence of Jakim should not be questioned anymore as the department served to coordinate Islamic religious affairs and acted as a blockade for any agenda which threatened the position of Islam in the country.

"Jakim is still relevant today and nobody can deny that it plays a major role in coordinating Islamic religious matters since it was set up to elevate and uphold Islam as the official religion in Malaysia.

He was responding to an article in The Malaysian Insider today quoting the eldest son of former deputy prime minister Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, Tawfiq Ismail, who wanted Jakim to be scrapped as the agency was seen to be interfering in the personal lives of the people.

Asyraf Wajdi said Jakim was established with the consent of the Conference of Rulers which wanted Islam to be recognised as the country's official religion as enshrined in the Federal Constitution and championed by the first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, 58 years ago.

"Since Jakim was established as the secretariat to the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia, the agency had never interfered with people's private affairs," he said.

The deputy minister said Muslims in the country should have faith in Jakim in addressing various religious issues as it had the authority over these matters in Malaysia. – Bernama, November 9, 2015.