KUCHING: Synergy among agencies such as the Syariah Court, the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department, the Syariah Prosecution Department, the Sarawak Islamic Council and other related agencies serves as a key pillar in efforts to strengthen the Syariah judicial ecosystem.

The Chief Syarie Judge of the Sarawak Syariah Judiciary Department, Datu Awang Suhaili Ledi, said such integration is crucial to ensure that law enforcement, prosecution, the management of Islamic family matters and the implementation of court decisions can be carried out effectively and in line with the objectives of the Syariah (maqasid syariah).

He added that the sharing of best practices among states is an important mechanism in further strengthening and maturing the Syariah judicial system as a whole.

“Each state has its own experiences, approaches and strengths in dealing with legal issues, court administration and the management of Syariah cases.

“These differences, if harnessed in a structured and open manner, can become a valuable source of learning for mutual improvement,” he said.

He made these remarks when delivering his address at the Open Court Conference held in conjunction with the Opening of the Sarawak Syariah Legal Year, here, on Thursday.

He further explained that such synergy enables the Syariah Court to assess the effectiveness of policies, procedures and innovations that have been implemented, whether in aspects of case management, the use of technology, judicial training, prosecution, Syariah legal practice or alternative dispute resolution approaches.

In the same development, he also stressed that the effectiveness of the Syariah judicial system depends on the relevance of its underlying legal framework, which must be continuously reviewed and updated to remain aligned with societal and technological developments, without compromising the principles of Islamic law.

Meanwhile, the Sarawak Attorney General, Dato Sri Saferi Ali, who was represented by Senior State Counsel Professor Dr Jady Zaidi Hassim, said that the Sarawak Attorney General’s Chambers remains committed to fostering close and collaborative working relationships with the Sarawak Syariah Judiciary Department (JKSS), particularly in shaping an increasingly robust legal landscape.

In this regard, he expressed hope that such cooperation and collaboration would continue through further knowledge-sharing sessions, serving as added value for State Legal Officers who wish to broaden their legal knowledge across various aspects of life.

Also present were the Director and Chief Syarie Judge of the Department of Syariah Judiciary Malaysia, Dato Mohd Amran Mat Zain, Chairman of the Sarawak Syariah Lawyers Association, Harizan Hamzah, and the Chief Syarie Prosecutor of the Sarawak Syariah Prosecution Department, Ahmad Rithauddeen Rabaie. -UKASnews