Minister explains RM3.5mil increase in funds for Jakim

 

An additional RM3.5 million budget allocation will go towards paying for rent and Jakim programmes, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

PETALING JAYA: A RM3.5 million increase in a 2022 budget allocation for the Islamic development department (Jakim) is to cover the department’s operational costs, religious affairs minister Idris Ahmad told the Dewan Rakyat.

He said the allocation was increased from RM747 million in 2021 to RM751 million for 2022.

“The 0.48% increase is needed to support the department’s operational costs like rental and programmes organised by the department,” he said during the committee stage debate on the 2022 budget.

Ngeh Koo Ham (PH-Beruas) of DAP had recently urged the government to list out Jakim’s expenditure as the department’s budget for next year is higher than that of some ministries.

He said that, in total, Jakim had been allocated RM956 million, and the allocations for managing Islamic affairs has increased every year, from RM1.2 billion in 2019 to RM1.3 billion in 2020, RM1.4 billion in 2021 and RM1.5 billion next year.

Claiming that the budget was race-based and unfair, he said it should instead reflect the Malaysian Family concept. - FMT