Al-Mafqud - Committee to address issue of missing persons' assets

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 14, 2013): A committee will be formed to find solutions to the issue of the assets of al-mafqud, or missing persons whose status (dead or alive) is unknown. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said the committee would be set up by the Malaysia Syariah Judicial Department with the cooperation of the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim). "However, no time frame is given in finding the solutions but a suitable duration is expected," he said after a working visit to the Syariah Judicial Department and meeting its officers, here, today. Jamil Khir said that in this country, al-mafqud assets in the form of land, cash, movable assets, vehicles and shares had to date, amounted to billions of ringgit. "With regard to land, for example, the owners cannot be traced and the annual quit land not paid up but the land titles are available. These cases are considered grey areas. "We want to see solutions, including from the syariah stand because as a general rule, when a person dies without leaving an heir, his assets will go to the Baitulmal (Islamic treasury), but in such (al-mafqud) cases, the management and administration of the assets will be decided through the committee," he said. In another development, Jamil Khir said the Syariah Judicial Department had met the 2012 KPI (Key Performance Indicators) as it managed to dispose of court cases that were more than two years old. "We want cases in the syariah courts to be disposed of fast. If there are still backlogged cases, what are the source and reasons? "If it's staff shortage, we must think of increasing the number or hearing the cases at night or on weekends," he said. – Bernama source: http://www.thesundaily.my/news/588659