KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor's Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah will be the chairman of the National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) for a period of two years, with the Prime Minister serving as the deputy chairman.

       His Majesty was elected to the post at the 258th meeting of the Conference of Rulers in line with the recommendation of the Islamic Affairs Supreme Committee at the federal level, says Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad.

       In a statement Saturday (March 12), the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal said the committee, then chaired by the late Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, was of the view that since Islam was under the jurisdiction and discretion of the Malay Rulers, it was more appropriate for MKI to be chaired by a State Ruler.

       "The Committee's recommendation was discussed between the Rulers and the government and they came to a consensus.

       "Following the development, the 258th Conference of Rulers agreed to elect His Highness the Sultan of Selangor as the chairman of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia for a period of two years," the statement read.

       According to Syed Danial, the statement was issued to clarify a local media report on Thursday (March 10), which reported that the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) was now placed under the purview of the Rulers Council, which he said was misleading.

       Syed Danial said the appointment of the MKI chairman since its establishment in 1968 had indeed been made by the Conference of Rulers and the Prime Minister beginning with the late Tunku Abdul Rahman.

       However, the 258th Conference of Rulers decided that one of the ruling monarchs should take over the role and responsibilities of the chairman in rotation for two years, while the Prime Minister is appointed as deputy chairman in accordance with the recommendation of the Islamic Affairs Committee. - Bernama