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KUALA LUMPUR - The allocation for Islamic affairs under Budget 2027 has been increased to RM3.1 billion from RM2.6 billion this year to continue upholding Islam in the country, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, when tabling the budget themed "Reaching for the Sky, Rooted in the Ground" in the Dewan Rakyat today, also announced a special incentive of RM150 a month for 500 Religious and Fardu Ain Class (KAFA) teachers educating special needs students, including through sign language and Braille Quran.
He said the government, through Lembaga Tabung Haji, will fully cover Social Security Organisation (Socso) contributions for all 40,000 imams, bilal, tok siak, noja, marbut, and takmir teachers.
"To preserve turath (classical Islamic scholarly) knowledge, the government is establishing the Malaysia Pondok and Turath Advisory Council, involving international Islamic scholars such as Sheikh Ali Gomaa and Sheikh Idris al-Fasi.
"We are also introducing the Sijil Turath Malaysia to ensure the sustainability of pondok institutions," he said.
The Prime Minister also announced a collaboration between the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) to provide digital devices and skills training to teachers and students across more than 300 pondok schools nationwide.
"The Creative Dakwah Programme is also being introduced to produce fresh, authentic dakwah content that resonates with the younger generation through digital media, influencers, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)," he said. - BERNAMA