Perak Sultan tells Syariah courts to keep tabs on reforms - The Star

IPOH: April 30, 3008 By CLARA CHOOI

Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah has advised the state Syariah administration to keep close tabs on current efforts made nationwide to reform the country’s judicial system.

He said this was to ensure that the system improved its integrity and stood strong as a body to be respected by all.

“Many steps are being taken now to re-strengthen the country’s judicial system so that it remains free and independent.

“This is especially important as it is the very basic foundation of the doctrine of separation of powers between the legislative, the judiciary and the executive bodies,” he said Wednesday in his speech during the launch of the RM33.4mil Perak Syariah Court here.

He added that the Syariah Court was an institution responsible for fulfilling its duties to manage the implementation of justice in the country.

“The construction of this court has achieved its physical needs in terms of hardware.

“Now, the most important thing is the software component. This comprises the judges and all of the courts’ staff.

“These are the people who are blessed with the responsibility of bringing the very meaning of justice to this building,” he said.

Sultan Azlan Shah added that the Syariah Court needed to be able to carry out justice in an efficient and objective manner.

“All judgments made must be based on facts and valid data that has no doubt. Each judgment must be documented in writing so that it can be used as reference later,” he said.

On Wednesday Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said the state government would seek funds to construct Syariah Courts in three districts - Taiping, Teluk Intan and Seri Iskandar.

He said this was because the districts were currently renting the premises of various religious departments.