Kerfuffle over placement of Jakim officers resolved, says Aaron

“All the religious leaders also agreed to make use of the national unity ministry’s mediation bureau to seek resolutions to issues or polemics that arise”

(FMT) – This comes after the national unity and religious affairs ministers met with the interfaith group that had questioned the placing of Jakim officers in government departments.

The controversy over the placement of Islamic development department (Jakim) officers in government departments has been resolved, says national unity minister Aaron Ago Dagang.

Aaron said he and religious affairs minister Na’im Mokhtar met with the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) today to clear the air over the issue.

The national unity minister reiterated that the Jakim officers, who were first appointed in 2006, were only tasked with Islamic matters and were not involved in drafting policies or setting the direction of any ministry or agency.

“Currently, there are 1,250 Jakim officers (in various government ministries, departments and agencies) and no new appointments have been made under the unity government.

“The result of today’s meeting is that we have reached a consensus among Muslim and non-Muslim leaders and representatives regarding the polemic on the placement of Jakim officers.

“All the religious leaders also agreed to make use of the national unity ministry’s mediation bureau to seek resolutions to issues or polemics that arise,” he said in a statement.

MCCBCHST had responded to a statement made by a Sabah political leader, who reportedly raised concerns over reports that Jakim officers would ensure that decisions of every government department aligned with Islamic principles.

The council argued that such a role for Jakim officers would fall outside the constitutional scope of the role of Islam as interpreted by the courts.

However, Na’im had clarified that Jakim officers were not being placed in government departments to influence policy but only to organise Islamic religious programmes.

Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil had also said the issue was the result of a misunderstanding, adding that the policy on the placement of Jakim officers had existed since 2006 but that no placements had been made since then.