KUALA LUMPUR: The bill to amend the Syariah Court Civil Procedure (Federal Territories) Act 1998 (Act 585) was tabled for the first reading at the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.

The bill, cited as the Syariah Court Civil Procedure (Federal Territories) (Amendment) Bill 2024 was tabled by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.

According to the blue book on the Parliament website, the bill seeks, among others, to substitute Section 34 on Wakalah to ease the process of appointment of a syarie lawyer by allowing it to be pronounced by the person who appoints him without having to do it before the judge or court registrar.

The bill also seeks to amend Section 100 to insert after the words “in open Court” the words “or through a remote communication technology”.

During Tuesday’s (July 2) sitting, Mohd Na’im also tabled the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) (Amendment) Bill 2024 for the first reading, which aims to strengthen aspects of the enforcement and administration of Islamic law in the Federal Territories.

He said the second and third readings of the two bills are expected to be done during the current sitting. – Bernama