COMMENT | As Malaysia grapples with modernity, the Mufti (Federal Territories) Bill 2024 will be read for the second and third time next week, and is poised to chart a new direction for the country’s religious leadership.

The bill seeks to formalise and update the roles and duties of the mufti, representing Anwar’s calculated move to reshape Islamic leadership into one more attuned to both the spiritual and socio-economic challenges of today’s world.

But while the bill sets a new precedent, the road ahead demands even deeper reforms, particularly in how Malaysia’s mufti are educated and equipped for their roles.