E-SYARIAH
DEPARTMENT OF SYARIAH JUDICIARY MALAYSIA
Malaysia

The Problem

E-syariah will revolutionalize and bring effective changes to the operations of the Syariah Courts. It will improve the management of cases while streamlining the processes involved in registration of Syarie lawyers. Daily operations will be conducted more efficiently with the use of Office Automation System while the computerized Library System of JKSM enhance searches, borrowing of books and reference materials for Judges and Registrars if the Syariah Courts. The system provides the facilities to communicate electronically with other enforcing agencies. Since the introduction of e-syariah as one of the e-government flagship in 2002, it has contributed such a great improvement in the organization of Syariah Judiciary in Malaysia. It has reduced conflicts and provides better understanding to the citizens pertaining religious (Islamic) matters. Its vision is to be the central agency which is reliable in systematically institutionalizes the Syariah Judiciary in order to uphold the justice. The system is used in all the Syariah Courts all over Malaysia and, through the use of ICT, Towards the aim of becoming a knowledge country, the use of ICT is essential and the government should always give full support in the development of legal and religious matters, as it will creates a better understanding for the people.

Solution and Key Benefits

 What is the initiative about? (the solution)
E-Syariah project was successfully completed in year 2005. It was officially handed over to Department of Syariah Judiciary Malaysia (JKSM) in September 2005 for self-maintenance. It is fully implemented at 102 sites with 110 Syariah Courts nationwide. The project comprise of five (5) applications which are the Syariah Case Management, Office Automation System, E-Syariah Portal, Syarie Lawyer’s Registration and Library System. The system provides the facilities to communicate electronically with other related agencies. In 2006, Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) awarded E-Syariah Portal as the ‘Best Electronic Government Portal’ in one study of “Benchmarking and Comparative Study of Malaysia Government Portals and Websites 2005”.

Actors and Stakeholders

 Who proposed the solution, who implemented it and who were the stakeholders?
7 February 2003 – the launched of the E-Syariah at Marriot Hotel, Putrajaya

23 June 2005 - Syariah Case Management System was implemented at 110 Syariah Courts Nationwide

10 July 2006 - Awarded the ‘Best Electronic Government Portal’ in one study of “Benchmarking and Comparative Study of Malaysia Government Portals and Websites 2005”.

(a) Strategies

 Describe how and when the initiative was implemented by answering these questions
 a.      What were the strategies used to implement the initiative? In no more than 500 words, provide a summary of the main objectives and strategies of the initiative, how they were established and by whom.
e-Syariah is one of the project under e-Government Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Malaysia flagship application. It is a case management system that integrates the process related to case management to Syariah Courts in Malaysia. As of now, there are 110 courts has been equipped with the system. Department of Syariah Judiciary Malaysia (JKSM) is the one who is responsible to lead the development of the project with the help of Malaysian Administrative and Modernization Planning Unit (MAMPU), a central ICT agency for Malaysian Government.

(b) Implementation

 b.      What were the key development and implementation steps and the chronology? No more than 500 words
The objectives of this project is to improve the quality of services and management of the Syariah courts in coordinating related agencies under its jurisdictions. It is a major effort of the Government of Malaysia to increase the efficiency of the management and administration of the Syariah Judiciary courts throughout the nation. Major priority is to use ICT in the development of legal and religious matters, as it will creates a better understanding for the people.

(c) Overcoming Obstacles

 c.      What were the main obstacles encountered? How were they overcome? No more than 500 words
The management has agreed to speed up the implementation process by taking various steps involving all stakeholders. The new version of Case Management System and Office Automation System had been developed and installed based on the additional requirement by the JKSM and State Syariah Courts. The system then had been installed based on network readiness at the sites followed by integration with the Portal, Syarie Lawyer’s Registration and Library Management System.

(d) Use of Resources

 d.      What resources were used for the initiative and what were its key benefits? In no more than 500 words, specify what were the financial, technical and human resources’ costs associated with this initiative. Describe how resources were mobilized
An integrated system comprises of five (5) components/ applications were developed to improve the productivity and efficiency of the management system of the Syariah Courts. E-Syariah benefits more to the users as it reduces cost and time in many ways, such as the development of Case Management System which enable users to check status and case monitoring. E-Syariah will automatically send emails to Judges, Registrars and staff pertaining cases that they will be handled. E-Syariah Portal provides the public and staff the info on the latest court procedures and regulations, online case pre-registration and online alculation for faraif (legacy distribution based on the Islamic law calculation). The system also can generate reports on how many cases has been registered.

Sustainability and Transferability

  Is the initiative sustainable and transferable?
The lead agensy (JKSM) hand constantly conducted capacity buildings and trainings to ensure that all relevant stakeholders and users had agreed understanding of the system. In transferring the skills to all stakeholders, JKSM had prepared a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to assist the organization to maintain their quality control and ensure compliance with governmental regulations. With a great commitment from related agencies, E-Syariah emerged as one of the successful projects under E-Government flagship applicarion. Its revolutionalize and brings effective changes to the operation and the management of the Syariah Courts. The Portal, for example also serves as an information gateway to provide the public and staff of the Syariah Courts on the latest information related to the Syariah laws.

Lessons Learned

 What are the impact of your initiative and the lessons learned?
The agency (JKSM) had maximized the usage of human capital by locating each staff based on the need and requirement at the head office and the States of Syariah Courts. A completed training module and relevant documents has been prepared to assist the staff to minimize the opportunities of miscommunication and misconception within the Syariah Courts. A series of workshops had been conducted to identify benefits from smart partnership with the stakeholders. As the result, various tasks such as registration of cases, scheduling of hearing, enquires, case tracking, recording of Judgement, reports and statistics can be done electronically in the Syariah system. The database containing records of all cases filed with the courts will be maintained for the purpose of references and check to avoid duplication of cases in other states. Daily operations will be conducted more efficiently with the use of Office Automation System while the Library System allow users to conduct electronic searches, borrowing, returning of books based on cataloguing system. Through the E-Syariah Portal, public can access information on court procedures and online case pre-registration.
The most interesting part is faraid calculation will be conducted electronically. In order to facilitate for communication with related agencies, the Syariah Courts are linked electronically to agencies such as Legal Assess Division of the Prime Minister;s Department, National Registration Department, Royal Malaysia Police Department and the Immigration Department.

Contact Information

Institution Name:   DEPARTMENT OF SYARIAH JUDICIARY MALAYSIA
Institution Type:   Government Department  
Contact Person:   HASIB MANSOR
Title:   MR  
Telephone/ Fax:   +603-8886 4800
Institution's / Project's Website:   +603-8889 1627
E-mail:   hasib@streamyx.com  
Address:   BLOCK D7, PARCEL D, PUSAT PENTADBIRAN KERAJAAN PERSEKUTUAN
Postal Code:   62677
City:   PUTRAJAYA
State/Province:   FEDERAL TERRITORY
Country:   Malaysia

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