The much-discussed Mufti (Federal Territories) Bill 2024 has been postponed to the next Dewan Rakyat session, in what is the fifth time that the bill’s second reading has been delayed.
Religious affairs minister Na’im Mokhtar said this was to allow ongoing engagements to be completed to strengthen the understanding of the bill’s purpose and provisions, Bernama reported.
“There are many important bills scheduled for tabling in this Parliament session. While the federal territories mufti department continues its engagement with stakeholders, we will give way for other bills to proceed first.
“The second reading will therefore not be done this time and will be brought forward to the next session,” he was quoted as saying.
After being tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat in July 2024, the bill had been postponed four times prior to this.
It aims to make provisions concerning the federal territories mufti and address matters related to Islamic law and doctrines.
The bill outlines the roles and functions of the mufti in assisting and advising the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on matters of Islamic law, establishing procedures for issuing fatwas and offering legal opinions in court.
It also proposes the establishment of several committees, including a federal territories fatwa committee, a falak syarie (shariah astronomy) committee, a rukyah hilal (sighting of the new moon) committee and an Islamic religious teaching supervision committee, all to be chaired by the mufti.
