KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Mufti (Federal Territories) Bill 2024 will be referred to the Conference of Rulers next week.
He said the bill was currently undergoing expert-level discussions.
"The Mufti Bill is being discussed and opinions are being heard.
"However, there are no disputes regarding the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah and references to the Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanafi, and Hanbali schools of thought, as well as other viewpoints.
"Sometimes these details are discussed... so I defer to the experts, and it will then be referred to the Conference of Rulers next week," he told reporters at the Global Madani Forum.
Yesterday, Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail expressed his displeasure over the use of the Conference of Rulers' name in efforts to support the Mufti (Federal Territories) Bill.
On July 2, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na'im Mokhtar had presented for the first reading in Parliament three bills concerning Islamic affairs in the country.
The Mufti (Federal Territories) Bill includes the Islamic Laws Administration (Federal Territories) (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the Shariah Court Procedure (Federal Territories) (Amendment) Bill 2024.
The bill also lists the establishment of the Federal Territories Fatwa Committee, Syariah Astronomy Committee, Hilal Sighting Committee, and the Islamic Education Oversight Committee chaired by the mufti.
Additionally, it defines Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah from the 'akidah' perspective based on the Al-Asyairah, Al-Maturidiah streams, and Shafi'i Mazhab jurisprudence, while honoring three other Mazhabs and the tasawuf of Imam Ghazali and Imam Junaid.