Marhamah: A proposal to standardise the admission and accreditation of Syariah lawyers nationwide, endorsed at the 2026 Syariah Legal Profession Convention, will be tabled at the next meeting of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia (MKI).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Marhamah Rosli stated that if the MKI accepts the proposal, it could be refined for further action, including, if necessary, being submitted for the consideration and consent of the Conference of Rulers. The initiative aims to allow Syariah lawyers admitted to practise in one state to do so automatically in other states without having to undergo separate admission procedures or assessments.

Currently, the admission of Syariah lawyers is under the jurisdiction of individual states. This results in lawyers admitted in one state not being automatically eligible to practise in another, leading to challenges such as inconsistent qualification standards and admission procedures, administrative and financial burdens on practitioners, and the absence of a uniform system of mutual recognition nationwide.

Marhamah made these remarks during Question Time in the Dewan Negara in response to Senator Datuk Salehuddin Saidin's inquiry about the government's stance on standardising the admission process for Syariah lawyers seeking to practise across different states. She further elaborated that the government would continue to facilitate the harmonisation process in a measured, inclusive, and phased manner, while respecting the constitutional jurisdiction of the states and the role of the Malay Rulers as Heads of Islam in their respective states.