Zulkifli explained that the police were not exceeding their jurisdiction with the collaboration, and pointed out that the secular agency was empowered to enforce Shariah laws.

But he added that the latest project was intended to help religious enforcers improve their operations rather than to increase police involvement.

 "We will be giving them more advice and guidance and help them prepare a standard operating procedure with the hope that they can improve their professionalism,” he told Malay Mail Online. Zulkifli also urged the public to not overreact to the cooperation, insisting that it was meant to avoid previous controversies that occurred during enforcement action by religious authorities.

The police were sincere in their desire to raise the standards of enforcement both at Jais and other religious authorities, he added.

"No need to be emotional. Truthfully, this is much better as we are there to guide them on the do's and dont's,” he said. Beginning yesterday, the Royal Malaysia Police has seconded two officers and a sergeant to the Jais' office to assist the department in enforcing Shariah laws.

Malaysia Islamic Development Department director-general (Jakim) Datuk Othman Mustapha said the trial project will last a year. On Thursday, Bernama reported Othman as saying the move was necessary to counter threats to Islam such as Shiah and deviant teachings, conflicts over Shariah law, social ills and the question of rights to freedom which he claimed to have become increasingly complex.

Jais has encountered several controversies in its enforcement previously, including raiding a church over the suspected proselytisation to Muslims and the seizure of the al-Kitab from the Bible Society of Malaysia, among others.