Former CJ unravels civil-syariah court jurisdiction conflict in new book

The conflict between the jurisdiction of the Civil and Syariah courts is the main focus of a book written by former Chief Justice, Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad.

The book is titled 'Konflik dan Pengharmonian: (Konflik Bidang Kuasa dan Pengharmonian) or Conflict and Harmonisation: (Conflict of Jurisdiction and Harmonisation).

It focuses on two issues, namely the conflict of jurisdiction between the Syariah and Civil courts, and the harmonisation of laws related to the conflict.

It also contains ideas to 'Malaysianise' laws and the country's legal system based on the basic principles of the Federal Constitution.

Priced at RM100 each, the book is published by the Institute of Islamic Understanding, Malaysia (IKIM).

It also discusses views on developing a legal system according to Malaysian values and mould, based on the principles and philosophies of administering justice that are in tandem with the position of Islam as the official religion of the country.

Earlier, in his speech, Tun Abdul Hamid said the conflict of jurisdiction was not foreseen by those who drew up the Constitution and nobody expected there would be cases involving non-Muslims.

"It (the book) is my legacy to all, I hope they will benefit from it," he said at the launching of the book by former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also IKIM chairman. - BERNAMA