KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 — A mufti has proposed for the National Registration Department to provide a special column for Muslim parents to write their children’s name in the Jawi script, to prevent usage of names that have unpleasant meanings in Arabic.

According to Federal Territories mufti Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad, the Jawi spelling of the name will be considered the conclusive spelling to ascertain the meaning of certain names that have different meanings when spelt in the Roman script.

"We propose for the National Registration Department to provide special column for Muslim children’s name to be written twice in Roman and Jawi script,” the mufti said in a newsletter published yesterday on his office’s website, addressing a recent controversy over Muslim children’s names.

"The Jawi script will be considered as the most conclusive especially in phrases or names that exist in the Arabic language.”

The Jawi script is used to spell Malay words using the Arabic alphabet.

For example, the mufti pointed out that two distinct Arabic letters — alif and ‘ain — are both spelt with the Roman letter "A”.

"This is so that the pronunciation and its intended real meaning achieve its objective,” he said, adding that the practice is common among Muslims in Singapore.

The mufti also suggested for religious teachers or officials from the federal religious authority to provide advisory services to parents in choosing their children’s names.

Penang Mufti Datuk Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor has been publicly criticised recently after warning Muslim parents against naming their children with words that purportedly have unpleasant meanings in Arabic.

Among the names Wan Salim had warned against was "Damia”, which he claimed means "source of blood flow”, but Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin was among those who suggested that the name might not even be Arabic.

Zulkifli today said the name "Damia” has many meanings in different cultures, and may refer to a place-name in Jordan, including a Greek word meaning "to tame” that becomes the root for other names such as Damian.

Despite that, the FT mufti suggested for parents to spell the name with an apostrophe as Damia’, to ensure that it has no negative meanings in Arabic.

He also warned parents against giving long names to their children, since people tend to use a shortened version of given names.

He also suggested that parents consult religious teachers before choosing a name, and to not just pick a name from books.

Previously, a copy of a letter dated November 7, 2016 from Wan Salim’s office became viral on social media after he advised the National Registration Department on a parent’s request to change their daughter’s name from "Nur Damiya Safiyya” to "Putri Nur Safiyya”.

Wan Salim explained himself to Malay daily Sinar Harian in an earlier report that many parents give names with unpleasant meanings to their children, such as "Bahimah” which allegedly means "animal”, "Zani” (fornicator), and "Syarrul Bariyyah” (the most evil of creatures).