Kuala lumpur: Engagement sessions on the Mufti (Federal Territories) Bill 2024 are still underway before the bill is brought again to the Dewan Rakyat, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar. He stated that the Federal Territories Mufti Department had been instructed to intensify efforts to ensure a wider understanding of the purpose and objectives of the bill.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Na’im emphasized the necessity for more engagement sessions with relevant parties and stakeholders to provide clarification. He assured that these sessions would continue until the right time is determined for further action. The bill remains in Parliament and has not been withdrawn or scrapped, underscoring the importance of providing a clear understanding due to existing confusion that needs to be addressed.

The media reported on August 29 that the debate on the bill had been postponed for the fourth time since its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat in July last year. The bill aims to address issues related to the mufti, including the determination of Islamic law and doctrine. It outlines the mufti’s role in advising the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Islamic law matters, procedures for issuing fatwas, offering opinions on Islamic law in court, and determining the Qibla’s direction.

Furthermore, the bill proposes the establishment of several committees, such as the Federal Territories Fatwa Committee, the Falak Syarie (Islamic Astronomy) Committee, the Rukyah Hilal Committee, and the Islamic Religious Teaching Supervisory Committee, all to be chaired by the mufti.