15-05-2025
Sabah first to pass Islamic Adoption Enactment
Published on: Friday, May 16, 2025
Published on: Fri, May 16, 2025 Text Size: The adoption process will begin with an evaluation by the Welfare Department, followed by proceedings in the Syariah Court and concluding with the issuance of an adoption certificate by the NRD. - Pic for illustration only. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah made history by becoming the first State in the country to pass the Islamic Adoption Enactment. State Chief Syarie Judge Datuk Ahadin Arinen said the Enactment, which was passed by the State Assembly at the end of 2024, would streamline the adoption process for Muslims. Previously, such adoptions were only guided by internal procedures established in 2005.
Advertisement 'This Enactment provides an avenue for Muslims to formally apply for child adoption through the Syariah Court, unlike before, where the process involved civil courts or native courts,' he told the media after paying a courtesy visit to Head of State Tun Musa Aman at Istana Seri Kinabalu. Ahadin said the Enactment involves three main agencies - the Syariah Court, the Sabah Social Welfare Department and the Sabah National Registration Department (NRD). 'The adoption process will begin with an evaluation by the Welfare Department, followed by proceedings in the Syariah Court and concluding with the issuance of an adoption certificate by the NRD. 'Among the key criteria outlined in the Enactment is that both the applicant and the adopted child must be Muslim and the process must comply with existing laws and national security policies. 'Although we didn't have a specific enactment before, we have been implementing this process since 2005 based on the 2006 General Guidelines and Procedures for Adoption in the Syariah Court, and we've handled more than 100 adoption cases annually,' he said. Ahadin also said Sabah has established its own Supreme Syariah Court, becoming the second State after Perak to set up the highest institution within the State's Syariah judicial structure. 'The establishment of the Supreme Syariah Court is in line with our efforts to strengthen the Syariah judicial system and provide the best justice for the Muslim community in Sabah. We are truly grateful to be a pioneering state in both of these initiatives,' he said. Also present during the visit were Senior Syariah High Court Judge of Sabah, Nawawi Diman; Syariah High Court Judges, Ade Rizal Pahlevi Mohd Zen and Taherah Tahir; Senior Judge of the Syariah Lower Court, Awang Jalimin Matiasin; Registrar of the Sabah Syariah Judiciary Department, Mohd Yusuf Nureddin; and Chief Syarie Judge's Research Officer Nooryasmensharini Abas. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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