Analysis of Loopholes in the 1997 Peguam Sharie (Sharie Lawyer) Rules of the State of Penang
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32890/uumjls2025.16.1.5Keywords:
Sharie lawyers, Peguam Syarie (State of Penang) Rules 1997, Penang Shariah Court, Shariah lawAbstract
Sharie lawyers represent disputing parties in resolving their problems in Shariah courts. In Malaysia, the laws applicable to regulate the affairs of Shariah lawyers in terms of admission, qualifications and disciplinary matters are determined by state rules established based on the Islamic Religious Administration Enactment of the states or the Shariah Court Enactment of the states. For Penang, the applicable law is the Rules of Sharie Lawyers or Peguam Sharie (State of Penang) 1997. Therefore, the Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) is responsible for regulating Sharie lawyers in Penang. However, to date, there are still significant loopholes in this law that have disrupted its regulatory process. As a result, the profession of Sharie lawyer faces daily challenges, including inconsistent admission criteria, lack of clear disciplinary procedures, limited professional development, jurisdictional confusion, enforcement issues, and eroding public trust. The present research objective is to analyze loopholes in the Peguam Sharie (State of Penang) Rules 1997, identify areas of weakness, and propose recommendations for improving the regulatory framework for Sharie lawyers in Penang. A qualitative approach was used in this study and the data collection was done using primary and secondary sources. For primary sources, the researchers conducted interview sessions with Penang Sharie lawyers and Penang Shariah Judiciary Department (JKSNPP) officers in order to obtain firsthand perspectives, context, clarity, validation, and recommendations for the research. Whereas, for secondary sources, the researchers referred to journals, books, and proceedings, as well as electronic database sources. The data was analyzed using a content analysis method. This research found that there were eight provisions that needed to be reformed to improve the profession of Sharie lawyers in Penang. This research has suggested an amendment to the Peguam Syarie (State of Penang) Rules, 1997. It has also recommended that the parties involved in the practice of Shariah law in Penang be made aware of the challenges faced and amend the existing law so that the profession of Sharie lawyers remains relevant in the future.
References
Abd Ghani, A. S. (2021). Peranan peguams syarie. Asco law. https://www.ascolaw.co/pemikiran-terbaru/peranan-peguam-syarie
Abdul Majid, M. A., Othman, M., & Yusof, A. (2017). Piloting for interviews in qualitative research: Operationalization and lessons learnt. International Journal of Academic Research in Business Social Sciences, 7(4), 1073-1080. http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v7-i4/2916
Abdul Ralip, M. I. (2014). Peguam syarie: Pengamalan di Malaysia. 1-20.
Abu Bakar, A. (1997). Guaman Syarie: Antara teori dan praktikal. In Ibrahim, A et al. (Eds.), Al-ahkam: penghakiman dan kepeguaman (Vol. 5, pp.78-79). Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Abu Bakar, M. Z. (2003). Isu-isu peguam syarie di Malaysia. Jurnal Syariah, 11(2), 109-132. https://ejournal.um.edu.my/index.php/JS/article/view/22868
Abu Bakar, Z. R. (2022, June 22). Penguatkuasaan akta profesion guaman syarie. Sinar. https://premium.sinarharian.com.my/article/208441/mediasi-kritis/cetusan/penguatkuasaan-ak ta-profesion-guaman-syarie Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993.
Ali Mohamed, A. A. (2012). Professing the religion of Islam as a requirement to be a syarie lawyer: With reference to the case of Victoria Jayaseele Martin v Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan & Anor. Journal of Global Intelligence & Policy, Fall, 5(8), 150-165. http://www.cljlaw.com/others/files_jt/%5B2016%5D%20CLJ%20JT%20(4).pdf
Ali Mohamed, A. A. (2020). Syarie legal profession: With reference to Syarie Legal Profession (Federal Territories) Act 2019. Current Law Journal [2020] 4 CLJ, v-xviii. http://irep.iium.edu.my/ 82207/1/Syarie%20Legal%20Profession%20CLJ.pdf
Arahan Amalan No. 4 Tahun (2002). Etika Peguam Syarie. https://syariah.perak.gov.my/images/ pdf/arahanamalanjksm/AA_4_2002.pdf
Arsad, M. I., & Mat Hussin, M. N. (2020). Pelanggaran etika peguam syarie: Kajian di negeri Selangor. Journal of Shariah Law Research, 5(1), 55-74.
Awang, M. (2013, 26 October). Peranan peguam syarie dalam sistem pentadbiran kehakiman Islam di Malaysia: Sejarah, cabaran dan halatuju. Seminar Amalan Guaman Syarie 2013. Klana Beach Resort Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. https://www.academia.edu/35366283/PERANAN_ PEGUAM_SYARIE_DI_DALAM_SISTEM
Awang, M. (2017, 29 August). Peguam syarie di Malaysia: Realiti semasa & ke arah penggubalan Akta Profesion Guaman Syarie. Paper presented at Seminar Kebangsaan Mahkamah Syariah 2017. https://iais.org.my/attach/2017/29AUG2017/MusaAwang.pdf
Aziz, S. A. (2019). Kuasa parlimen menggubal akta profesion guaman syarii: Analisis peruntukan perlembagaan persekutuan. Kanun: Jurnal Undang-Undang Malaysia, 31(2), 270-283. https://jurnal.dbp.my/index.php/Kanun/article/download/2917/2412
Bakar, A., & Rijal, Z. (2019). Sejarah dan kronologi Akta Profesion Gaman Syarie (Wilayah wilayah Persekutuan) 2019-dari perspektif seorang Peguam Syarie. Makalah Seminar Penerangan Akta Profesion Guaman Syarie (Wilayah-wilayah Persekutuan) (PROPES 2019). Bankruptcy Act 1967 (Act 55). (n.d). CommonLII. http://www.commonlii.org/my/legis/consol_act/ ba19671988217/
Baxter, P., & Jack, S. (2008). Qualitative case study methodology: Study design and implementation for novice researchers. The Qualitative Report, 13(4), 544-555. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2008.1573
Berelsen, B. (1952). Content analysis in communication research. Free Press.
Berita Harian. (2022, June 12). Akta Profesion Guaman Syarie dikuat kuasa 21 Jun ini. Berita Harian. https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/kes/2022/06/966356/akta-profesion-guaman-syarie-dikuat-kuasa-21-jun-ini
Burok, M. (2007). Isu dan permasalahan guaman syarie ke arah penubuhan Majlis Peguam Syarie. (Ed.) Hasan, Z., Abd Murad, A. H., & Md. Yusof, A. F., Amalan Kehakiman dan Guaman Syarie di Malaysia, 91-104. Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed method approaches. 5th Edition. SAGE Publications Ltd.
David, M., & Sutton, C. D. (2004). Social research: The basics. SAGE Publications Ltd.
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2011). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research. SAGE Publication.
Eriksson, P., & Kovalainen, A. (2015). Qualitative methods in business research: A practical guide to social research. Sage Publication.
Hasan, Z. (2001). Ethics of Sharie Lawyers. https://zulkiflihasan.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/ 2008/10/shariah-law-report-ethics1.pdf
Gaber, J. (2020). Qualitative analysis for planning & policy: Beyond the numbers. Routledge.
Gentles, S. J., Charles, C., Ploeg, J., & McKibbon, K. A. (2015). Sampling in qualitative research: Insights from an overview of the methods literature. The Qualitative Report, 20(11), 1772-1789. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2015.2373
Hammad, M. R., Abd Rahman, M. R., & Dahlan, N. K. (2019, 5-6 November). Prinsip al-wakalah bil khusumah dalam kepeguaman syarie: Analisis pelantikan dan urus tadbirnya di bawah perundangan Syariah di Mahkamah Syariah. 5th International Seminar on Islamiyyat Studies (IRSYAD 2019), (pp. 638-648). Tenera Hotel. http://conference.kuis.edu.my/irsyad/images/ eproceeding/2019/1076-irsyad-2019.pdf
Hasan, Z. (2008). Ethical principles of lawyers in Islam. https://www.studocu.com/my/document/ universiti-sains-islam-malaysia/law-and-syariah/ethical-principles-of-lawyers-in-islam/87210 539https://zulkiflihasan.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/shariah-law-report-ethics1.pdf
Hasan, Z. & Hashim, H. (2017, 10 November). Ke arah penubuhan majlis peguam syarie Malaysia. Konvensyen Nasional Peguam Syarie Malaysia kali ke-4. Kuala Lumpur. https://www. zulkiflihasan.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/KE-ARAH-PENUBUHAN-BADAN-PEGUAM-SYARIE.pdf
Jamal, J. (2005). Isu perlantikan dan etika peguam syarie. In Ahmad Bustani, T. A., Mohd Kamal, M. H., & Shuaib, F. S. (Eds.), Kaedah perundangan, bidang kuasa dan tatacara mahkamah syariah (pp. 181). Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. Legal Profession Act 1976 (Act 166).
Mat Ali, S.Z. (2010). The ethical studies of peguam syarie in Selangor. (Unpublished Bachelor of Shariah Project Paper). Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia.
McGowan, L. J., Powell, R. & French, D. P. (2020). How can use of the theoretical domains’ framework be optimized in qualitative research? A rapid systematic review. British Journal of Health Psychology, 25(3), 677-694. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12437
Md Noor, S. Z. (2001). Kod etika peguam syarie. Jurnal Hukum 14(2).
Md Nor, S. Z. (2004). Al-wakalah bi al-khusumah. Al-Syariah Kehakiman Islam. Jil. 2. (pp.198). Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Md Abdul Salam, N. Z., Yahaya, N. F., Hashim, M. H., & Abd Rahman, S. H. (2020). Amalan perwakilan peguam syarie dalam Islam. e-Jurnal Penyelidikan dan Inovasi, 7(2), 47-67.
Meerangani, K. A., Marinsah, S. A., & Ramli, R. (2018). Penglibatan non-muslim sebagai peguam syarie di Malaysia: Satu analisis. Jurnal Syariah, 26(1), 23-40. http://mjs.um.edu.my/index. php/JS/article/view/11858
Mohajan, H. K. (2018). Qualitative research methodology in social sciences and related subjects. Journal of Economic Development, Environment People, 7(1), 23-48. https://doi.org/10.26458/ jedep.v7i1.571
Mohd Adanan, A. M. (2015) Peranan peguam syarie dalam mengendalikan kes murtad dalam kalangan mualaf: Suatu penilaian (Unpublished master’s thesis). Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.
Mohamad Dahalan, H., Hj Mohiddin, M. N., Abd Rahman, M. R., & Dahlan, N. K. (2019). Peguam syarie di Malaysia: Analisis perkembangan pelaksanaannya di mahkamah syariah. Jurnal Undang-undang dan Masyarakat, 25, 23-33. https://doi.org./10.17576/juum-2019-25-04. https://ejournal.ukm.my/juum/article/view/36252
Mohamad Dahalan, H., Hj Junaidi, M. A., Abd.
Rahman, M. R., Dahlan, N. K., & Yahya, M. A. (2021). Prosedur tatatertib peguam syarie di mahkamah syariah analisis dari perspektif prinsip syariah. ISLAMIYYAT 43, 153-163. https://ejournal.ukm.my/islamiyyat/article/view/48473
Mohamed Adil, M. A. (1996). Peguam syarie, masa depan dan cabaran di Malaysia, 8(1), KANUN 1.
Mohamed On, H. (2014). Pengiklanan bidang kepakaran peguam: Keperluannya dalam membantu bakal klien memilih peguam. UUM Journal of Legal Studies, 5, 13-29.
Muhammad, D. (2008). Peguam syarie dalam institusi qada. Jurnal Hukum, 26(2), 137-145.
My Metro. (2022, January 9). Akta 814 berkuat kuasa 21 Jun. My Metro. https://www.hmetro.com.my/ mutakhir/2022/06/852278/akta-814-berkuat-kuasa-21-jun
Neuman, W. L. (2015). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (7th Ed). Pearson Education Limited.
Othman, M. S. A. (1996). Institusi pentadbiran undang-undang dan kehakiman Islam. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Othman, M. S. A. (1997). Al-Ahkam, Jil. 5. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Paulsson, A, Hirschhorn, F. & Sørensen, C. H. (2020). Seeing into the future of mobility: The contestable value of expert knowledge and Delphi as futures methods. M. Büscher, M. Freudendal-Pedersen, S. Kesselring, & N. G. Kristensen (Eds.), Handbook of Research Methods and Applications for Mobilities (pp. 282–291). Edward Elgar Publishing. Peguam Syarie (State of Penang) Rules 1997. Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Administration Enactment 1993.
Salam, N. Z. M. A., Yahaya, N. F., Hashim, M. H., & Abd Rahman, S. H. (2020). Amalan perwakilan peguam syarie dalam Islam: The Practice of representation by syarie lawyer in Islam. e-Jurnal Penyelidikan dan Inovasi, 7(2), 47-67.
Seidman, I. (2006). Interviewing as qualitative research: A guide for researchers in education and the social sciences. Teachers College Press.
Sheikh Salleh, S. S., Abdul Shukor, S., Imam Supaat, D. & Abdul Ghafar, A. (2003). Penerimaan masuk peguam syarie di Malaysia (Unpublished Bachelor of Shariah Project Paper). Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai. Sharie Legal Profession Act 2019 (Act 814).
Silverman, D. 2020. Qualitative research. Sage Publications Limited.
Stough, L. M. & Palmer, D. (2003). Special thinking in special settings: A qualitative study of expert special educators. The Journal of Special Education, 36(4), 206-222. https://doi.org/10.1177/ 002246690303600402 Victoria Jayaseele Martin v. Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan & Anor.
Whiting, A. (2012). The training, appointment, and superision Islamic lawyers in the federal territories of Malaysia. Pacific Rim Law & Policy Journal, 21(1), 133-161.
Yaacob, A. M. (2000). Etika peguam menurut perspektif Islam. Yaacob, A. M. (Eds.), Etika hakim dan peguam (pp.136-138). Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia.
Yahya, N. F., Salam, Z., Mohamad Dahalan, H. & Yahya, M. A. (2020). Analisis syarat kelayakan peguam syarie menurut Islam dan perundangan di Malaysia. Current Legal Issues, 2, 101-108. Wan Adnan, W. A., Buang, A. H., & Sulaiman, Z. (2022). Pemerkasaan pelaksanaan sulh dalam kes-kes hartanah melalui pemakaian arahan amalan di Mahkamah Syariah di Malaysia. UUM Journal of Legal Studies, 13(2), 345-371. https://doi.org/10.32890/uumjls2022.13.2.14
Wan Ismail, W. A. F., Abdul Mutalib, L., Baharuddin, A. S., Abdullah Kahar, N. S., & Alias, M. A. A. (2023). Keperluan prosedur operasi standard dalam penerimaan dokumen digital di Mahkamah Sivil Malaysia. UUM Journal of Legal Studies, 14(1), 365-390. https://doi.org/10.32890/ uumjls2023.14.1.14
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 UUM Journal of Legal Studies
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
Research impact
Harvested 2026-09-07Counts differ between services because each indexes a different body of literature. None of them is the whole picture.
