KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee has been appointed as the new director-general of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), effective today.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar announced the appointment, saying that Sirajuddin, formerly Jakim's deputy director-general, will lead efforts to enhance Islamic affairs services and advance the civil service reform agenda.
Sirajuddin holds a Bachelor's in Syariah & Law from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, a Master's in Information Technology from Universiti Teknologi Mara, and a PhD in Computer Science from the University of South Australia.
He began his career in 1992 as an Islamic affairs officer and has served in various senior roles, including as Jakim's research division senior director and Malaysia's first halal secretary in Canberra, Australia.
The government also appointed former Jakim director-general Datin Hakimah Mohd Yusoff as the halal affairs coordinator, effective today, to strengthen coordination between Jakim, Matrade, and the Halal Development Corporation (HDC).
Shamsul Azri said he hopes that Sirajuddin's and Hakimah's appointments would further elevate Jakim's role in Islamic affairs at both national and global levels.