PETALING JAYA: An interfaith group has confirmed a new date for their rescheduled meeting with religious affairs minister Na’im Mokhtar and national unity minister Aaron Ago Dagang to discuss the placement of Islamic development department (Jakim) officers in government departments.
Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) president Tan Hoe Chieow briefly said in a text message: "Sept 18 (Wednesday) at 4pm."
FMT had contacted him for a response after Na’im said the Sept 6 meeting had to be rescheduled due to Aaron’s inability to attend.
Na’im and Aaron were ordered by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to meet the council to hear their views and clear the air on the placement of Jakim officers in government departments.
MCCBCHST had argued that such a role for Jakim officers would fall outside the constitutional scope of the role of Islam as interpreted by the courts.
Na’im had clarified that Jakim officers were not being assigned to influence policy but rather to organise Islamic religious programmes.
Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil previously said the policy for placing Jakim officers had been in place since 2007 and no placements had occurred recently. He said the issue appeared to stem from a misunderstanding.
