MCCBCHST Expressed Concerns at Meeting with Yang Berhormat Ministers

Date: 19 September 2024

MCCBCHST:  expressed concerns at meeting with Yang Berhormat Ministers

The representatives of Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) had met with Minister, Yang Berhormat Senator Dato’ Setia Dr. Haji Mohd Naim and Yang Berhormat Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang on 18/9/2024 at 4:00 PM at the JAKIM Headquarters in Putrajaya. Yang Berhormat Minister of Religious Affairs had briefed the MCCBCHST delegates on the role of the JAKIM officers placed at Government Departments and Ministries which purportedly included management, human development, rehabilitation, safety and prevention based on the needs of the Departments.
 

At the meeting the MCCBCHST had re-expressed concerns that Jakim officers placed in Government Departments may influence Government policy development and decisions to align with Islamic principles and thus may affect the rights of non-Muslim. It had further stated that such a role in policy development and decisions would be outside the scope of the constitutional role of Islam. Any decision to be lawful must be intra vires of the constitution. The MCCBCHST was then assured by the Minister of Religious Affairs that Jakim officers would not be involved in any policy matters. It was then agreed in the meeting that this matter of placement of Jakim officers could be further discussed at the Religious and Mediasi Bureau which falls under the Harmony Committee. The Meeting was throughout very cordial and conducted in a harmonious atmosphere.
 

The MCCBCHST thank the Ministers for initiating the meeting which resulted in a fruitful dialogue.

EN