Jakim to explain concept of jihad, says minister

Minister Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom believes more awareness and education will help younger Muslims realise the true meaning of jihad. – The Malaysian Insider pic, January 27, 2015.The Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) will explain the concept of jihad to a wider section of Malaysian society as there is still a lot of confusion over the concept, especially among the younger generation.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said confusion had been identified as one of the reasons for some youths to be attracted to and influenced by the jihad (fighting in the name of religion) call.

"Jakim will carry out the explanations through cooperation with the relevant agencies including higher learning institutions," he told reporters after a gathering with agencies under his purview in Kuala Lumpur today.

Jamil Khir said Jakim officers would "turun padang" (go to the ground) to hold ceramah (talks) and seminars not only at the higher learning institutions but also at each government agency.

The effort, he said, was in line with the suggestion by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for Jakim to take the leading role in organising programmes to explain the concept of jihad.

Belief in the struggle in the name of jihad had driven a number of Malaysians to support or join the Islamic State militant group in Syria.

Yesterday, a former student of a local university was charged in the Sepang Sessions Court for trying to give support to the militant group, making him the 24th Malaysian charged in court in cases related to supporting the Islamic State.

At the same function, Jamil Khir launched the Jakim Strategic Plan 2015-2019, formulated in line with Jakim's vision of becoming an excellent driving force in managing Islamic affairs in the country towards 2020.

He said the strategic plan included efforts at realising the implementation of the five-tier Syariah Court.

"Currently, there are still technical issues that need to be rectified and resolved before the matter is tabled before the Conference of Rulers and in Parliament," he said.

The five levels proposed are the Syariah Lower Court, Middle Court, High Court, State Syariah Appeals Court and the Syariah Appeals Council, to replace the current three-tier system - Syariah Lower Court, High Court and Appeals Court. – Bernama