Selangor Sultan calls for SIS to stop using 'Islam' in name

SHAH ALAM: The Sultan of Selangor has expressed disappointment over a Federal Court ruling that a 2014 fatwa does not apply to Sisters in Islam Forum (Malaysia), a company, but only to individuals.
In a statement on the Selangor Royal Office's Facebook page, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said the use of the word "Islam" by SIS Forum (Malaysia) could confuse Muslims.
"In relation to the Federal Court decision, Sultan of Selangor as the head of islamic religion in Selangor urges that SIS Forum (Malaysia) no longer use the term 'Sisters in Islam' in any form of publication on any platform associated with their company.
"This is to ensure that the word 'Islam' is not used arbitrarily for the benefit and interest of the company," read the statement.
Meanwhile, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council in a statement, expressed that while it respects the decision of the Federal Court, it does not agree with certain parts of the ruling.
Its chairman Datuk Salehuddin Saidin said the Council is saddened because the Federal Court's decision has, albeit indirectly, interfered with the process of issuing and applying fatwa related to matters of Islamic law.
"Mais also expresses concern that the majority decision of the Federal Court in this case may open the door for certain irresponsible groups to hide behind the name of Islam through a company, organisation, or institution in order to practice and propagate deviant teachings contrary to Islamic principles, thereby evading enforcement action.
"In addition, if this matter is left unchecked, it could cause confusion and potentially jeopardise the faith of Muslims," he said in the statement.
Further commenting, Salehuddin stated that Mais nonetheless agrees with and fully supports the dissenting judgment delivered by Judge Datuk Abu Bakar Jais, who held that the jurisdiction to decide disputes concerning fatwas lies within the Syariah Court based on the subject matter approach.
"He also stated that although the company involved in this case is not a 'orang sebenar (natural person)' capable of professing the religion of Islam, it is still subject to the fatwa.
"This is based on the name SIS, 'Sisters in Islam', which clearly carries an Islamic identity, as well as the company's activities, which include publishing materials and making statements on matters related to Islam.
"This is further supported by the fact that the company's founders and directors are Muslims," he added.
Earlier, the Federal Court in a landmark decision today ruled that a Selangor fatwa declaring liberalism and religious pluralism as deviant cannot be applied to SIS Forum (Malaysia), a company limited by guarantee, as it is not a natural person professing the religion of Islam.

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