Jakim Director-General Datuk Haji Othman Mustapha said the police will deploy officers to assist Jais in enforcing Shariah law in a one-year trial project. — Picture by Yusof MAt Isa

SHAH ALAM, April 28 — The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) is placing two officers and a sergeant at the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) to assist the department in Shariah law enforcement from this May 1.

Malaysia Islamic Development Department director-general (Jakim) Datuk Othman Mustapha said the trial project would be implemented for a year.

“Issues that threaten the Islamic religious faith such as Shiah and deviant teachings, conflicts over Shariah law, social ills and the question of rights to freedom have become increasingly complex.

“Therefore, professional support and services from PDRM personnel to assist Jais’ enforcement machinery in handling Shariah cases are critical and timely,” he said at a press conference after the handing-over of the three PDRM personnel to Jais for the trial project, here, today.

Also present, were Jais director Datuk Haris Kasim and Bukit Aman police Management director Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah.

Othman said that during the one-year period, the placement of the PDRM personnel for the cadre posts at Jais’ Enforcement Division would be regularly monitored for the project’s impact and effectiveness.

“We hope this cooperation between PDRM and Jais can be strengthened and extended to the Islamic religious department of other states in future.

“This placement idea was mooted by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the Home Minister in 2013,” he added.

Meanwhile, Zulkifli said under the trial project, PDRM placed an ASP, inspector and sergeant from different departments and who had vast experience in their respective fields, including religion.

He said the three would assist Jais in giving advice and would share their expertise in conducting enforcement operations.

“They may also be involved in Jais’ enforcement operations. Besides that, they can also use their own network to get more police assistance needed in an operation,” he added.

Haris, meanwhile, said the cooperation from PDRM could boost Jais’ enforcement operations and expedite the investigation documentation process. — Bernama