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KUDAT: A Mobile Syariah Court will be established in Sabah early next year to provide service facilities to the Muslim community, especially in rural areas.

Exco of Islamic Affairs in Sabah, Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif said a comprehensive study would be carried out to identify the areas that need such service.

Prior to establishing the Mobile Syariah Court, he said the studies would include identifying areas that have problems registering documents such as marriages due to ‘kahwin kampung’ (married without the proper certificate) and so on.

 “This service will also be established in areas that do not have Syariah Courts or far from any town that has the facility.

 “In addition, this initiative will also help to speed up delayed sharia cases,” he said after officiating a ‘Mahabbah Program’ at the Banggi Town Hall, here, recently.

Also present were Banggi Assemblyman Mohammad Mohamarin; Member of Parliament for Kudat Datuk Verdon Bahanda; Tanjung Kapor Assemblyman Chen Chong Ben and Chief Syarie Judge of Sabah, Ahadin Arinen.

On the programme, Dr Mohd Arifin, who is also the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, said the main purpose of organising the programme was to help raise awareness among the community on the importance of Syariah law.

At the same time, he said, the effort can also provide an understanding of the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court as well as the management of Islamic family cases, marriages and solemnisation of marriage in accordance with Syariah regulations and laws.

He said this includes providing awareness and understanding of Syariah law and Syariah rights of the Muslim community through lectures by speakers and question and answer sessions.

Therefore, Dr Mohd Arifin said this kind of effort should be continued in other districts throughout the region because it can have a positive impact on the Muslim community.