Tawfik: Jakim too influential than it should be

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Tawfik: Jakim too influential than it should be

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20, 2023: According to a leader of an independent electoral movement, the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has become more influential than it should be as the result of Members of Parliament (MPs) not well versed in the Federal Constitution (view the above video clip).

Tawfik Ismail, a former MP from Umno, said Jakim’s outreach today was because it had become a political tool of conservative politicians.

Under the Federal Constitution, matters concerning Muslims and Islam (religious affairs) are under the purview of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Sultans.

For decades, federal governments (elected once every five years) have been allocating multi-millions of Ringgit, now billions of Ringgit, to Jakim in annual budgets.

Really, can anyone cite Jakim having contributed to national unity and harmony among multi-racial-religious Malaysians.

Instead, it has come up with public issues that divided race and religion. The billions of Ringgit can be put to better use for socio-economic development for the rakyat dan negara (people and country).

Aren’t the King and Sultans capable or competent to handle (Islamic) religious issues? Why then waste billions of Ringgit to duplicate the work of religious affairs? Allocate adequate budgets for the Royalty to manage Islamic affairs.

It is certainly time for the so-called Madani Unity Government to review Jakim’s establishment.