Najib to table Syariah Index report on March 28

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will table the Malaysian Syariah Index report, which will determine the implementation of Islamic agenda and the level of syariah-compliance in certain fields in Malaysia, on March 28.

Najib said the index was important and close to his heart as the prime minister as he wanted to know the government’s commitment towards the Islamic agenda.

He said the index, which was launched last February, would determine whether or not the policies implemented by the government fulfilled the objectives of Islamic principles.

“We cannot jump to conclusions based only on the general point of view. Sometimes, our views are influenced by our own personal experience.

“Maybe because the matter was not labelled as Islamic, or it was being influenced by political consideration, that had caused our conclusions to stray from the reality,” he said at the appreciation ceremony for the Malaysian Syariah Index 2015 research team in Putrajaya today.

Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom and his deputy Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) director-general Othman Mustapha and Malaysian Syariah Index Governance Committee chairperson Dr Abdul Shukor Husin.

The index, the first of its kind ever developed in the world, evaluated and assessed the government's seriousness in achieving the five aspects of the ‘Maqasid Syariah’ or syariah requirements, namely the protection of the religion, protection of life, protection of the mind, protection of the race and protection of property.

It covered eight major areas namely legal, politics, economy, education, health, culture, infrastructure and environment, and social.

Najib said the index would give an accurate description of the polemics and definition of an Islamic state.

“As the prime minister, I have to know if there were any flaws or any improvements and correction needed. I have to do the best to uplift the status of Islam.”

- Bernama