Jabatan Mufti Selangor (The Mufti Department of the state of Selangor, Malaysia) in collaboration with PISANG (Professional Islamic Support and Nurture Group) held its second experts seminar (Muzakarah Pakar ke-2) on the challenges for the implementation of sihir crime law in Malaysia on Wednesday 21st July 2010. The seminar focussed on the challenges of the prosecution of sihir criminals in the shariah court and was attended by about 140 experts from various disciplines e.g. experts in shariah law, academicians, medical doctors and Islamic Medical practitioners.
The seminar was officiated by Dato’ Seri Utama DiRaja the Mufti of Selangor, Dato’ Setia Hj Mohd Tamyes Abdul Wahid. Amongst the important figures attending the seminar were Tan Sri Sheikh Ghazali Hj Abdul Rahman (Advisor on Shariah Law, Attorney General’s Chambers), Dato Hj Muhammad Asri Hj Abdullah (Malaysian Shariah Court of Appeal judge) and Prof. Datin Paduka Dr Zaleha Kamaruddin (Deputy Director Malaysian Institute of Islamic Understanding). Dr Zulfakar Ramlee from the Department of Islamic Law at International Islamic University Malaysia presented a paper “Pendakwaan Jenayah Sihir: Prinsip-prinsip Pembuktian dan Akta Keterangan Mahkamah Syariah” (Prosecution of Sihir Crime: Principles of Evidence and Evidence Act of the Shariah Courts). Two workshop sessions attended by experts in shariah law and science and technology were also held.
Jabatan Mufti Selangor in collaboration with PISANG had organised 2 seminars of the implementation of Sihir Crime Law. There is a real need for the enactment of sihir crime law to curb the widespread use of sihir and to protect the public. The seminar has been a great success and participants wanted more effort to be done at the national level. PISANG will continue to collaborate with various Malaysian government departments to organise another seminar at the national level.