Jakim officers have limited role in govt departments, explains minister

Jakim officers have limited role in govt departments, explains minister


Published: Sep 3, 2024 6:34 PM


Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar has clarified that placing Islamic Development Department (Jakim) officers in every government department is not for policy-making purposes.

The officers’ roles are limited to organising Islamic religious programmes, Na’im (above) was reported as saying by The Star.

“It is not true. Jakim only organises religious programmes,” he said citing a statement released by his department earlier last month.

The department also pointed out that the policy was established under different administrations from the 1980s until the early 2000s, hence it is not something new under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) expressed concern that the measure could affect constitutional safeguards, including fundamental rights guaranteed by Articles 5 to 13 of the Federal Constitution.

The multifaith body was responding to a report quoting LDP vice-president David Ong, who raised concerns about Jakim officers being placed in government departments to ensure decisions align with Islamic principles.


Started during Dr M’s time

According to Jakim, the position of its Islamic affairs officers was established due to the need to manage religious matters in line with the implementation of the Policy on the Infusion of Noble Values, which has been in place since the early 1980s.

The placement of Jakim officers began in 1982, with attachés in London and Indonesia, soon after Dr Mahathir Mohamad took over as prime minister.

It was followed by appointments in the Agriculture Department, the Prisons Department, the Social Welfare Department, the Home Ministry, the National Security Council, and several other government agencies.

In 2001, the government issued a general circular on the guidelines for the Conduct of Lectures on the Infusion of Islamic Values in Public Services.

Then, under the administration of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the government introduced the Islam Hadhari approach in 2007.

“To facilitate its implementation, Jakim officers were placed in all ministries, departments, and federal agencies, as well as in several state-level service agencies,” read Jakim’s statement from last month.

It said the government consistently upheld and safeguarded Islam and its sanctity, in line with the recognition granted by the Federal Constitution, which designates Islam as the religion of the federation, as stated in Clause (1) of Article 3 of the Federal Constitution.