Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon): Sir, this Bill will allow foreign halal certification bodies to be recognised, give the MUIS Legal Committee more discretion to consider a fatwa request and strengthen the administration of Muslim religious schools.
I thank the Ministry for holding a public consultation in preparation for this Bill.
I have three clarifications to raise.
My first clarification is on the Legal Committee’s process for considering a request and preparing a ruling. The new section 32(3) requires the Legal Committee to consider every request for a ruling unless the request is frivolous. Section 32(3A) provides that the Legal Committee may prepare a ruling on the request if it is appropriate or necessary. Can the Minister clarify the procedure and timelines for the Legal Committee to consider a request and to prepare a ruling?
I have seen resident cases where these rulings are required for Court application. In one case, the request was submitted in August 2023. The resident was informed that the Legal Committee may take one or two years to provide an opinion. The resident was informed that this is because of the volume of requests that the Legal Committee has to handle.
Can the Minister share if the Legal Committee are expected to prepare their ruling based on any standards of timeliness? If so, what are these standards? Are there any plans to review the workload of the Legal Committee and the functioning of the Legal Committee to see how such requests can be more effectively managed?
My second clarification is on the recognition of foreign halal certification bodies. MUIS’ halal certification is well known and trusted. To ensure that equally stringent standards continue to apply to halal food sold in Singapore, can Minister share what are the considerations for deciding whether to grant recognition to a foreign halal certification body?
Given that the halal certification is happening overseas, what special steps will MUIS take to ensure that the standards hold up to local halal certification standards?
My third clarification is on the oversight of Muslim religious schools. The new section 86A inserts a definition of “Muslim religious school”.
The Majlis are empowered to set rules on these schools, including on how they provide Islamic instruction “online or remotely through electronic means.” The Majlis may also make rules for the oversight of Muslim religious schools including the powers to inspect, to obtain information, to gain access to any computer or online account, and to examine any record.
In a situation where Islamic instruction is provided in virtual meeting rooms and the virtual meeting room is hosted on a remote server outside of Singapore, can Minister clarify how these oversight and inspection provisions will apply?
Notwithstanding these clarifications, I stand in support of the Bill.
Watch the speech here.