Siti Kasim questions Jakim’s new ‘tolerance’ pledge

She says Jakim needs to clarify what it will do to those who have 'slipped from the religious path'.

Activist-lawyer Siti Kasim. (Facebook pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Activist-lawyer Siti Kasim today questioned the Malaysian Islamic Development Department’s (Jakim) pledge to be more tolerant in its handling of Islamic matters.

Siti, who is a fierce critic of Jakim, questioned the statement by its director-general Mohamad Nordin Ibrahim who said on Monday that the Islamic body would advise and guide those who had “slipped from the religious path”.

“What does he mean?” she said. “To whose religious path is he referring? He should clarify this.”

Jakim, which has been criticised for its methods in the past, said it would use enforcement as a last resort, with Nordin saying Islam should not be seen as a harsh and punitive religion.

However, Siti asked what Jakim would do to those who had “slipped from the religious path”.

“If someone does not agree with their version of Islam, are they going to go after these people and give the authorities the green light to enforce action against them?”

She also claimed that Jakim was irrelevant and that allocations for the department would be better used to build schools and hospitals or to upgrade public transport.

“They don’t serve any purpose. We already have enough state departments,” she said.

Siti previously criticised Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Islamic affairs, Mujahid Rawa, for defending Jakim’s RM810.89 million operating budget.

She also attacked the government for suggesting “intensive religious training” to change a person’s sexual orientation.

Jakim was established as part of the Prime Minister’s Department in 1997. Among its responsibilities is to determine the halal status of products from the consumer food sector, which is worth billions of ringgit.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad however defended Jakim which he said was meant to bring the government in line with Islamic teachings. This followed speculation that the department might be dissolved after Pakatan Harapan’s victory in the May 9 polls. - FMT