Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman has called for comprehensive reforms and transformation of the Syariah judiciary to ensure it remains relevant, credible and capable of upholding justice effectively.
He said Syariah legal reform should not be confined to changes in structures or systems, but should also involve strengthening institutions, enhancing professionalism and cultivating a work culture based on trust and integrity.
“The role of the Syariah Courts is becoming increasingly challenging amid various social issues today.
“Issues involving family matters, the rights of women and children, maintenance and inheritance require legal solutions balanced with compassion, wisdom and the well-being of the people,” he said.
Tun Musa said this when officiating the Sabah Syariah Judiciary and Legal Symposium 2026, themed “Transformation and Reform of Syariah Law: Driving Excellence in the Sabah Syariah Courts”, here, Wednesday.
He said the excellence of the Syariah Courts should not be measured solely by the number of cases resolved, but also by their ability to instil public confidence that justice could be upheld transparently, effectively and with dignity.
“This reform is important to ensure that the Syariah judiciary remains relevant and authoritative, while being able to safeguard the harmony and well-being of the people,” he said.
On reform efforts at the state level, Tun Musa commended the Sabah Government’s proactive move in passing the Muslim Inheritance Bill 2026 during the State Legislative Assembly sitting on July 22.
He said the initiative was the first of its kind in Sabah to strengthen the management of Muslim inheritance assets, while demonstrating the state’s commitment to spearheading dynamic and modern Syariah legal reforms.
Tun Musa also welcomed the publication of the Sabah Syariah Judgments Book, which compiles a collection of grounds of judgment from the Sabah Syariah Courts and serves as an important reference for judges, legal practitioners and academics.
Also present were Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Isnin Aliasnih, Sabah Federal Secretary Datuk Mohd Razali Wahab and Department of Syariah Judiciary Malaysia Director-General Datuk Mohd Amran Mat Zain.
