THE NEED FOR WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS AND INTERVIEWS IN THE APPOINTMENT OF SYARIE LAWYERS: AN ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This study examines the necessity of implementing written examinations and interviews in the appointment process of Syarie lawyers in Malaysia. The Syarie legal profession plays a vital role in safeguarding the rights of litigants in the Syariah Courts and ensuring that justice is upheld in accordance with Islamic law. However, inconsistencies in the qualification requirements—particularly written tests and interviews across different states have resulted in varying assessment standards and hindered the mobility of Syarie lawyers to practise in multiple jurisdictions. The key question that arises is whether a standardized system is needed to strengthen the integrity of the Syarie legal profession and enhance public confidence in the Islamic judicial institution. Accordingly, the objectives of this study are to identify the concept of Syarie lawyer appointments based on statutory provisions and Islamic principles, to assess the current implementation of written examinations and interviews, and to propose improvements to address existing inconsistencies. This research adopts a qualitative doctrinal approach through a comprehensive literature analysis of enactments, appointment procedures, books, academic articles, and journals. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain empirical insights from officers and practitioners within the Syariah legal field. The findings reveal substantial differences among states in determining examination and interview requirements, resulting in inconsistent assessment standards and confusion among prospective candidates. The study proposes a standardised guideline covering aspects such as scoring methods, examination content, categories of candidates required to sit for written tests, and the publication of past examination questions as official references. Overall, this study contributes towards strengthening a more transparent and harmonised appointment system for Syarie lawyers nationwide, without undermining the jurisdictional authority of individual states. In conclusion, standardisation is deemed an essential step to ensure that the Syarie legal profession remains credible, respected, and continues to serve as a pillar of justice within Malaysia’s Islamic legal system.

Kajian ini meneliti keperluan pelaksanaan ujian bertulis dan temuduga dalam proses pelantikan peguam syarie di Malaysia. Profesion guaman syarie memainkan peranan penting dalam memastikan hak-hak pihak berkenaan di Mahkamah Syariah terpelihara serta keadilan ditegakkan berasaskan hukum syarak. Walau bagaimanapun, ketidakselarasan syarat kelayakan ujian bertulis dan temuduga antara negeri menimbulkan isu standard penilaian yang berbeza serta menyukarkan mobiliti peguam syarie untuk beramal di pelbagai negeri. Persoalan utama yang timbul ialah sama ada perlu diwujudkan sistem penyeragaman bagi meningkatkan integriti profesion guaman syarie serta keyakinan masyarakat terhadap institusi kehakiman Islam. Oleh itu, objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti konsep pelantikan peguam syarie menurut undang-undang dan prinsip Islam, menilai pelaksanaan semasa ujian bertulis dan temuduga, serta mencadangkan penambahbaikan terhadap ketidakselarasan yang wujud. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif berbentuk doktrinal melalui analisis kepustakaan terhadap enakmen, kaedah pelantikan, buku, artikel, dan jurnal akademik. Di samping itu, kaedah temubual separa berstruktur turut dijalankan bagi memperoleh pandangan empirikal daripada pegawai dan pengamal undang-undang syariah. Hasil kajian menunjukkan wujudnya perbezaan ketara antara negeri dalam menetapkan syarat ujian dan temuduga yang memberi kesan kepada tahap keseragaman penilaian serta menimbulkan kekeliruan dalam kalangan calon. Kajian ini mencadangkan garis panduan penyeragaman meliputi aspek pemarkahan, kandungan ujian, kategori calon yang perlu menduduki ujian bertulis, serta penerbitan bank soalan terdahulu sebagai rujukan rasmi. Secara keseluruhan, kajian ini menyumbang kepada pengukuhan sistem pelantikan peguam syarie yang lebih telus dan seragam di seluruh negara tanpa menjejaskan bidang kuasa negeri. Kesimpulannya, penyeragaman dianggap langkah penting bagi memastikan profesion peguam syarie terus berwibawa, dihormati, dan menjadi teras keadilan dalam sistem perundangan Islam Malaysia.