BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE minister of education assured the 10th Legislative Council (LegCo) session yesterday Brunei would continue to produce Syariah judges through Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA).

The various programmes — such as Syariah and Islamic law — offered by the university will ensure this, said Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Awg Abu Bakar Hj Apong.

LegCo member Pehin Datu Imam Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awang Abdul Hamid Bakal had previously asked whether the Ministry of Religious Affairs would allow officers from the Judiciary Department to take Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degrees and other relevant courses so that they would be able to replace retiring Syariah judges.

Addressing the core concern of replacing judges who retire, the minister pointed that UNISSA already offered a five-year Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Syariah Law double-degree programme, aside from courses on Islam and the judiciary.

“These programmes range from undergraduate programmes, postgraduate programmes, Higher National Diplomas, as well as non-graduating courses,” said YB Pehin Dato Hj Awg Abu Bakar.

“The available programmes will assimilate graduates with a wide range of knowledge in the civil and Syariah penal code.”

There are currently 11 students in the academic year 2011/2012, 19 students in 2012/2013 and 30 in 2013/2014. The first intake will complete their studies in 2016.

The total intake has increased year on year, the minister said.

“Therefore, this means that by 2019, InsyaAllah we will have a total of 60 double-degree graduates.”

The minister added that UNISSA also offered full-time and part-time Higher National Diploma courses in Dirasat Islamiyyah in Syariah Judiciary Islamic law.

The quality of programmes are constantly being updated to meet the demand of the Syariah Courts, he said.

The Brunei Times