NOMINATED Assemblyman Dr Aliakbar Gulasan proposed establishing Syariah Courts in every district to improve accessibility for Muslims.
He made this suggestion when debating the Establishment and Jurisdiction of the Syariah Court Bill on Wednesday.
He noted frequent complaints about case resolution delays in Syariah Courts, often shared on social media or in person.
He believed these issues might stem from difficulty accessing the courts, suggesting that while filing cases might be straightforward, attending hearings could be challenging for some.
Lamag Assemblyman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin interjected, recommending that Syariah Court officials streamline processes for Muslim convert couples.
Bung Moktar emphasised Islam’s simplicity and urged easier handling of matters involving new converts.
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Aliakbar agreed, mentioning complaints from various parties, particularly new Muslim converts.
He said that Islam should simplify marital affairs but noted that some court officers seemed to complicate matters.
Bung Moktar suggested this issue be addressed, as prolonged unresolved cases could be considered sinful.
Bugaya Assemblyman Jamil Hasan proposed implementing mobile Syariah Courts, similar to civil courts.
He highlighted challenges faced by villagers, such as those from his area travelling to Tawau for High Court cases due to the absence of a Syariah High Court in Semporna.
Aliakbar supported this idea, viewing it as part of government efforts to enhance and empower Syariah Courts while facilitating public access to legal services.
The Bill, tabled by Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif, the Minister responsible for Sabah’s Islamic affairs, was unanimously passed through a voice vote in the State assembly session.
