ALOR STAR: Syeikh Fadzil Awang has been appointed the new Kedah Mufti, effective Wednesday.
In a statement today, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah announced that Syeikh Fadzil, 68, has been appointed to succeed Datuk Syeikh Muhamad Baderudin Ahmad, whose contract expired recently.
Muhamad Baderudin had served as the state mufti since 2009.
Bashah said Syeikh Fadzil, who has served as a Kedah Fatwa Council member since 2002, and also a state Islamic Religious Council member, is the right candidate to assume the duty.
"I wish to congratulate Syeikh Fadzil on his appointment, with the consent of the Sultan of Kedah on Wednesday.
"The state government also wishes to express gratitude to Syeikh Muhamad Baderudin for his excellent service in upholding Islamic religious affairs in Kedah," Ahmad Bashah said.
Syeikh Fadzil was born on June 18, 1949 at Kampung Pida 7, Jalan Sanglang, Kodiang.
He received his early education at Pondok Pasir Tumbuh, Kelantan and Pokok Sena Religious School in Kepala Batas, Penang, before furthering his studies at Al-Azhar University, Egypt, in 'tafsir and ulum al-Quran' studies.
He served as head of the Islamic Centre under the Prime Minister's Department between 1981 and 1984, before serving as an Islamic religious teacher at the Maktab Mahmud Alor Star from 1984 to 2005.
In 2002, he was appointed as member of the Kedah Fatwa Council, and the Kedah Islamic Religious Council; as well as a Kedah Tithe board member and a Tabung Haji advisory board member.