Malaysia obtains overall score of 75.42 per cent in Syariah Index

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the score implies that the government is attentive, serious in taking into account the views of the people and continuously finding the best solution to ease the people's burden.

Malaysian Syariah Index is a scientific measurement methods that meet two important functions, which is to assess the seriousness of the government's efforts in meeting the standards of Islam-related government policies and its programs.

"The government has never ignored the views of the people, the government is always concerned, and trying to find the best solution to ease the people's burden.

"The results today will encourage and intensify our efforts to improve the welfare of the people," Najib said when tabling the Malaysian Syariah Index Report at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, here today.

He said, the Syariah Index will be implemented without taking away the rights of non-Muslims in the country and changing their way of life.

"In our country there are non-Muslims, we are a plural society. Therefore, the aspects of Maqasid Syariah cannot be implemented until it goes against the Constitution, taking away their rights or forcing them to change their way of life," Najib said.

Najib said the score was based on the government’s performance and commitment towards the Islamic agenda in eight major areas which were evaluated and assessed through a comprehensive and scientific research, which are education, legal, politics, health, economy, culture, social and infrastructure and environment.

He said the index, which is the first of its kind in the world, is based on the findings of a six-month research conducted nationwide, involving 133 researchers in various disciplines.