In a historic movement for Malaysia, two women have been appointed as Shariah court judges in the Muslim majority state, with Premier Najib Razak saying that Islam does not limit females to advance.
This showed that women in the country enjoyed equal treatment as men, he said. “Even in Islam, the religion does not limit women to advance. Their status is protected.”
He was commenting on the appointment of Suraya Ramli, 31, and Rafidah Abdul Razak, 39, who were made federal territory of Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur Shariah Court judges, respectively, in mid-May. On Saturday, Mr Najib, the religious adviser to the Prime Minister, was quoted saying that the appointments were made to enhance justice in cases involving families and women’s’ rights and to meet current needs.
To a question on whether there were plans to increase the number of women Shariah judges in other states, Mr Najib said it would be up to the state authorities as the matter was under the state Islamic councils’ jurisdiction.
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Parties may not meet deadline
Kathmandu, July 4: Nepal’s deadlocked political parties are unlikely to agree on a consensus candidate to lead a national government ahead of the July 7 deadline amid deep differences on how to end the constitutional crisis in the country.
The formation of a new government is likely to be delayed as the major political parties — the main Opposition UCPN-Maoist, the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist), the key ruling alliance partners — are no where near agreeing on a consensus candidate for the post of the Prime Minister, sources said.
The main parties have been unable to convene a joint meeting to discuss the issue relating to formation of a national government.
Nepali Congress and CPN-UML on Sunday discussed the formation of a new government. It asked the Maoists to complete the peace process and agree on a time frame to draft the Constitution and manage their combatants as per the agreement earlier this month, according to CPN-UML president Jhalanath Khanal. No decision was reached during the meeting as to who will head the government, he said. —PTI