KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 ― A state religious leader has expressed support for the proposal to make it compulsory for parents here to immunise their children.

According to New Straits Times, Negri Sembilan mufti Datuk Mohd Yusof Ahmad said looking after one’s health is in accordance with Islamic principles.

"I agree. In Islam, it is compulsory to take good care of your health and lives,” he was quoted as saying.

Deputy minister Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said, however, that further study by both Islamic experts and medical experts were required before a decision is made on introducing compulsory vaccination.

"Whether it should be made compulsory or not must be based on the opinion of experts.

"This includes weighing the harms and benefits of vaccination.

"If medical studies prove that people are exposed to harm if they are not vaccinated, the Islamic prevention of harm principle will prevail,” the deputy minister in charge of Islamic affairs was quoted saying.

He also said the mufti or religious authorities will have the final say on the validity of vaccination from the Islamic perspective.

In a separate report by local Malay daily Sinar Harian, the Selangor Mufti Department reportedly advised Muslims against doubting the content of vaccines and to comply with the Health Ministry's directives.

Last Saturday, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya assured that all vaccines were halal or permissible in Islam and did not contain pig DNA.

In a report by Berita Harian today, Family Medicine Specialists Association of Malaysia exco member Dr Suhazeli Abdullah said there are currently no specific laws that made it compulsory for newborns or children to be vaccinated.

"In this issue, the government could follow the example of Australia which already has laws that make it mandatory for every child to be given immunisation shots. However, what is important is that the law also provides a win-win situation to the government and parents,” he told the Malay-language daily.

Recently, a seven-year-old girl and two-year-old boy died in Malacca and Kedah from diphtheria, a potentially fatal and highly contagious bacterial infection that can be prevented by immunisations. Both reportedly had not received complete vaccination against diphtheria.

The anti-vaccine movement entered the spotlight after Ammar Wan Harun, a former contestant of the local Imam Muda reality TV series, mocked vaccinations on his Facebook page.4

On Sunday, the Health Ministry said it will consult the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) over a possible fatwa or religious edict to make it compulsory for Muslim parents to vaccinate their children.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said after discussing with Jakim, the ministry will then approach the Muzakarah National Fatwa Committee Council in Islamic Affairs, informally called the National Fatwa Council, on the matter.