ANALYSIS

All the data above represented in these bar graphs have all been collected through

quantitative method. All of the respondents are among CFS IIUM students. This survey is

done in the month of September.

According to the survey, 69% of the respondent answered ‘Yes’ while 31% answered

‘No’ when being asked whether Shariah Law in Malaysia is limited to personal matters only.

The 9th Schedule, List II, i.e. The State List of the Federal Constitution, Shariah Law in

Malaysia applied on persons professing the religion of Islam in the areas of Family Laws

(i.e., marriage, divorce, and custody and guardianship), Laws of Succession (i.e., probate and

administration, and trust deed), and with regard to Criminal Laws the jurisdiction of the

Shariah Law are limited and confined offenses in respect of polygamous marriage, close

proximity, violent of the “Pillars of Islam”(i.e., not fasting during Ramadhan days) and

apostasy.1 Therefore, from the data, most of the respondent agreed that Shariah Law in

Malaysia is confined to certain matters only.

1
Munirah Nazri (2015). Islamic Law in Malaysia (Prezi). Retrieved from
https://prezi.com/jrbk8frb9y6b/islamic-law-in-malaysia/
 As for the second question, 27 from 36 respondents are aware that Shariah Law in

Malaysia is applied to Muslims only. Definitely, Muslims in Malaysia are governed by

Islamic personal and family law, which has been in existence since the 15th century. Shariah

laws have been administrated, not only by the Shariah Courts, but also the civil courts.

However, by Article 121 (1A) of the Constitution of Malaysia, today, exclusive jurisdiction

has been given to the Shariah Courts in the administration of Shariah laws.2 Generally from

the collected data, the respondent mostly acknowledged the Shariah laws in Malaysia do not

apply to non-Muslims.

2
Borneo Post Online. “Syariah Law in Malaysia” The Borneo Post. Retrieved from
http://www.theborneopost.com/2010/08/09/syariah-laws-in-malaysia/ (accessed August 9,
2010)
 67% considered to the third question that drinking alcohol, having sex and committing

apostasy are related to personal matters. There are laws in Malaysia’s more Islamic states that

states “Perpetrators to sexual intercourse out of wedlock” can bring a sentence of two years.

Occasionally sharia courts impose caning sentences on male Muslims caught drinking

alcohol or committing adultery.3 Hence, the data shows that respondents agreed those act are

under the classification of personal matters.

3
Hays, J., “Islamic Law in Malaysia”. Facts and Details. Retrieved from
http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Malaysia/sub5_4d/entry-3677.html (accessed June,
2015).