Sarawak CM's initiative to address apostasy issue bold move: Juanda

KUCHING: The burden of issues related to apostasy in Sarawak is heavy but with good reasoning and by looking at the greater benefits of 'maqasid syariah' (advantages or welfare behind revelation of Islamic laws), the issue can resolved soon, says Sarawak Islamic Council deputy president Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya (pix).
He said the initiative undertaken by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to rectify the 'hanging' situation was an appropriate step which should be supported, as it was aimed at avoiding conflicts and to provide a solution to the sensitive issue, particularly in Sarawak.
"To solve this problem, emotions should be cast aside. The issue of unity and religious harmony in the country should be a priority. We should not let the actions of some 'mischievous' people disrupt the religious harmony enjoyed in the country," he said in a statement here, today.
The issue arose after four Sarawakians wanted to know whether a civil or syariah court has the jurisdiction over their efforts to leave Islam, and the Federal Court in Kuching decided that there was a provision in the Sarawak Islamic Council Ordinance on the power of the Syariah Court to handle such cases.
Abang Johari, in a statement late last night, stressed that as the Federal Court had given its decision, further action had to be taken while Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Home Minister, said today he left it to the state government to settle the issue.
Juanda in his statement today said that the best administrative solution could be achieved if the matter was resolved as the main issue of the four individuals was to remove their religion as Islam from their identity cards.
Without a ruling from the Sarawak Islamic Council, or the Sarawak Syariah Court or the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department, he said the Sarawak National Registration Department would find it difficult to approve their application.
"Discard bad thoughts. Abandon any bad intentions. The focus should be on maintaining the religious harmony which has existed for so long. The personal issue of one or two individuals who are having problems is not worth sacrificing the religious harmony," he said.
"The decision of the Federal Court should be respected and implemented. It strictly states that the Sarawak Syariah Court has the power to resolve this crisis even though it is not clearly stated in the text of the law. Hence the burden of deciding on the matter is now on the shoulders of the Sarawak Syariah Court," he added. — Bernama