PUTRAJAYA – An interfaith group which condemned the alleged placement of Islamic Development Malaysia Department (Jakim) officers in every government department is mistaken, as there is no such policy by the current government, said Fahmi Fadzil.
The government spokesman said the cabinet meeting today discussed the statement issued by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) yesterday, and the fact that Jakim had already clarified the issue nearly a month ago, on August 7.
“However, since MCCBCHST still issued a new statement, it shows there was a misunderstanding, so the prime minister has asked to give an explanation.
“The religious affairs minister also reminded us that until today, there is no ministry in which new Jakim officers have been placed – meaning, in ministries where there is already a Jakim officer, those are just the ministries that (already) have them (from before).
“And the officer does not touch on policy matters of the ministry where they are placed,” Fahmi told the media at his weekly post-cabinet meeting press conference.
The communications minister said MCCBCHST’s claims that Jakim officers are placed in ministries to influence policy “is far from the original objective of their placement”.
“They (the officers) are there to help in terms of integrity or with regards to spirituality, not to give views on policy. So, the accusation is not true,” Fahmi said, adding that no Jakim officer was assigned to the Communications Ministry.
He also added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has asked the National Unity Ministry and the religious affairs minister to meet with the interfaith council soon to listen to their views and explain the government’s stand.
MCCBCHST, in its statement yesterday, said the placement of Jakim officers in government departments “to ensure decisions align with Islamic principles” was an overreach of the Islamic scope provided for in the Federal Constitution in its role as the religion of the federation of Malaysia.
The council pointed out that the Federal Court has interpreted Islam’s position as the country’s religion to pertain to rituals and ceremonies only.
However, MCCBCHST said its statement was in response to a report on August 13 in Sabah-based media, Daily Express, quoting local politician David Ong, the vice-president of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Ong had referred to “reports” claiming Jakim officers would be placed in all government departments.
Fahmi today said Jakim had answered such concerns on August 7 in a press statement, issued in response to a podcast featuring human rights activist and lawyer Siti Kasim on the same topic.
In Jakim’s August 7 statement, the department denied claims that Anwar’s administration had ordered the placement of Jakim officers in all government agencies.
It clarified that certain ministries and agencies have had an in-house Jakim officer since 1982.
In 2007, to introduce “Islam Hadhari” under the then-federal administration, its officers were placed in all ministries and federal departments and agencies to oversee its implementation, Jakim added. – September 3, 2024