Fahmi: Misunderstanding, no new Jakim placements
Published: Sep 3, 2024 7:24 PM
There are no fresh placements of Islamic Development Department (Jakim) officers in government departments, said Fahmi Fadzil.
The government spokesperson claimed that the issue is nothing more than a misunderstanding.
“Jakim had answered this issue on Aug 7 after a human rights activist and lawyer raised it during a podcast at the time.
“However, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) issued a new statement and it has created a situation which we consider to be a misunderstanding,” he told reporters.
The podcast Fahmi referred to was former law minister Zaid Ibrahim’s which featured activist and lawyer Siti Kasim as a guest.
The Jakim statement, which is available on its website, denied Siti’s claim that the placement of Jakim officers did not happen during previous administrations.
“The placement of Jakim officers began in 1982 as attaches in London and Indonesia. Following this, in the Agriculture Department, Prisons Department, Welfare Department, Home Ministry, National Security Council and other departments,” it said.
National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang
Fahmi said National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar would meet with MCCBCHST to clear the air over this issue.
Yesterday, MCCBCHST expressed concern that placing Jakim officers in government departments could affect the constitutional safeguards, including the fundamental rights guaranteed by Articles 5 to 13 of the Federal Constitution.
The group considered any involvement from Jakim in the formulation of government policy to ensure that it is in line with Islamic principles would go beyond the agency's jurisdiction and may be unconstitutional because it affects basic rights guaranteed to all Malaysians.
Nothing new
Fahmi said the Jakim officer deployment policy was not new as it had already been implemented in 2006 and 2007.
He added that some current ministers were part of the cabinet involved in the decision made back then.
Fahmi stressed that the placement of Jakim officials never touched on policy issues in any ministry.
“The original goal of the placement was to help the government, especially in terms of integrity in a ministry.
"So, the accusations made by some parties are baseless," the Lembah Pantai MP added.
Fahmi said National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar would meet with MCCBCHST to clear the air over this issue.
Yesterday, MCCBCHST expressed concern that placing Jakim officers in government departments could affect the constitutional safeguards, including the fundamental rights guaranteed by Articles 5 to 13 of the Federal Constitution.
The group considered any involvement from Jakim in the formulation of government policy to ensure that it is in line with Islamic principles would go beyond the agency's jurisdiction and may be unconstitutional because it affects basic rights guaranteed to all Malaysians.
Nothing new
Fahmi said the Jakim officer deployment policy was not new as it had already been implemented in 2006 and 2007.
He added that some current ministers were part of the cabinet involved in the decision made back then.
Fahmi stressed that the placement of Jakim officials never touched on policy issues in any ministry.
“The original goal of the placement was to help the government, especially in terms of integrity in a ministry.
"So, the accusations made by some parties are baseless," the Lembah Pantai MP added.
On calls for MCCBCHST to be investigated for allegedly issuing a seditious statement, Fahmi said the government would leave it to the authorities to investigate the matter if a report was lodged.
"This touches on the enforcement aspect, I don’t comment on this issue and as usual, if the authorities receive a report, then they will be investigated," he added.
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