KINIGUIDE | The Federal Territories Mufti Bill 2024 will be a focal point at the ongoing Dewan Rakyat session that started on Monday, as its second and third readings are set to be presented amidst growing opposition and widespread criticism.

Initially, the controversy surrounding the government’s intention to introduce the Bill centred on the qualifications to become a mufti, specifically the requirement for them to be Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (adherent of the Sunni creed).

The focus is on Section 3(4) of the Bill, which defines Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah as adhering to the al-Asyairah and al-Maturidiyah stream on matters of akidah (faith), the Syafie school of Islamic jurisprudence (as well as other Sunni schools in certain circumstances) in matters of syariah, and principles brought by Imam Junaid al-Baghdadi and Imam al-Ghazali on matters of Sufism.

Objections to the use of the term Sunni to solely refer to the al-Asyairah and al-Maturidiyah schools of thought were first raised by Perlis Mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin.

This requirement would disqualify anyone following other schools, such as Salafism, from holding the post of Federal Territories mufti.

However, the debate over the bill has since expanded to encompass other aspects. In this edition of KiniGuide, Malaysiakini aims to unravel the key issues surrounding this ongoing controversy.