Kota kinabalu: The Syariah Court in Sabah is set to introduce the Management Display System (MDS), a digital queue management system, starting next year to enhance its judicial services and streamline operations as part of its digital transformation agenda.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the implementation of this initiative is pending approval for the necessary allocations. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar, emphasized that the new system aims to improve service delivery efficiency by ensuring smoother and more effective administrative operations within the Sabah State Syariah Judiciary Department. This initiative aligns with the aspiration to elevate the quality of Syariah judicial services in Sabah, as stated during an oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat.
In response to a query from Datuk Lo Su Fui (GRS-Tawau) about government measures to address delays in resolving 7,466 inheritance and estate cases at the five Syariah High Courts in Sabah, Mohd Na'im highlighted efforts to expand the number of judges and implement digital systems to expedite case management. Between 2020 and 2023, the Sabah State Syariah Court recorded 10,959 cases involving estate distribution applications and the appointment of administrators, with 93.91 per cent of these cases resolved.
Further efforts to strengthen the Syariah judicial service have been supported by the Public Services Department (JPA) and the Ministry of Finance, which have approved 28 new positions for the Sabah State Syariah Judiciary Department, including that of a Senior Syariah High Court Judge. This addition raises the total number of Syariah High Court judges in Sabah to six, allowing for improved case management and efficiency in handling Syariah-related matters across the state.
Addressing concerns from Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai) regarding overlapping jurisdiction between the Syariah Court and the Civil Court, Mohd Na'im mentioned that the government is exploring amendments to existing legal provisions to enable the resolution of inheritance cases within the Syariah Court for the Muslim community. Under Budget 2026, the government has allocated additional funds to the Malaysian Syariah Judicial Department (JKSM) to upgrade the e-Syariah system and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities nationwide, accelerating the digitalisation process of the Syariah Court.