Move with time to remain relevant

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ITS OFFICIAL: Taib (centre) knocking the pad with the gavel to mark the opening of the conference. Also seen are (from left) Daud, Tengah, Ibrahim and Jabu.— Photo by Muhamad Rais Sanusi

Chief minister says Syariah law must adapt to changes in modern society to suit current situation

KUCHING: Syariah law must gradually adapt to global changes to ensure that Islamic policies, laws and systems were relevant to modern society and kept up to date.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud who said this at the 15th National Syariah Officers’ Annual Conference at Four Points Hotel here yesterday added that the syariah judiciary system must be modernised to suit the present societal situation.

“Laws, issues especially related to family or business matters must be addressed carefully and all outdated laws must be revamped. This is to ensure relevance of the system,” said Taib. Taib added that the younger generation, who were exposed to the outside world especially through the media and the Internet were more informed on the issues outside Malaysia and they would most likely compare it with local surrounding.

“That is why we need to leave old and irrelevant polices and look into suiting the needs of the current world,” he pointed out.

Taib called on Syariah law practitioners not to be afraid of changes especially on issues involving Islamic values and the western world.

“In fact, the Islamic judiciary system has been around well before the rise of the western world, which is during Prophet Muhammad S.A.W time where the system were practised in Medina.”

Earlier, Syarie Chief Judge Tan Sri Dr Ibrahim Lembut in his speech thanked the state government for hosting the conference which was held for the first time in the state.

Ibrahim said the theme of the conference ‘Syariah Globalisation, Leading the Ummah’, must be fully understood by the participants as the event was a platform to exchange ideas and to formulate solution to rising issues.

Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Alfred Jabu Numpang, Resources Planning and Industrial Development Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, and State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Ghani.