The Selangor government’s allocation to the Selangor Department of Islamic Affairs (Jais) is under the spotlight. Some TikTok influencers claim it is lower during the Amirudin Shari administration than when Azmin Ali was menteri besar.
In multiple videos, several Perikatan Nasional-leaning content producers on TikTok cite Selangor’s 2017 and 2022 budget allocations to Jais to show that under Amirudin, the caretaker MB from Pakatan Harapan, Jais received less funds.
In 2017, under Azmin, who is now in rival coalition Perikatan Nasional, RM418.22 million was allocated to Jais, while in 2022, the Amirudin government allocated RM359.50 million.
Malaysiakini’s checks using official sources confirm this is true. However, the influencers are incorrect that the Amirudin government allocates less to Jais.This is because in the 2023 Selangor budget, Jais was allocated RM582.63 million, which is 39 percent more than what was budgeted under Azmin’s 2017 administration.
The sources consulted were written replies to the state assembly, the Auditor-General’s Report for Selangor, and news reports of Amirudin’s Selangor 2023 budget speech.
Earlier in the campaign, Amirudin also addressed a TikTok influencer who condemned the Selangor government for not spending funds allocated to Jais, citing the 2021 Auditor-General Report for Selangor.
“In 2021, we were in the middle of a pandemic where mosques and surau, as well as religious schools were not operating.
“This is why the funds were not spent, but it has nothing to do with how much was allocated.
“So I am explaining this in hopes we don’t buy the slander posed by PN to cast negative perceptions of Islamic development in Selangor,” Amirudin said on Twitter last week.
Selectively sharing parts of data, for only one point in time, to support a narrative, has been a feature of campaigning in this state election.
Earlier, Malaysiakini reported that PN and Harapan supporters were accusing each other of slander over Kedah export data, when in fact, both sides shared legitimate data from different points in time.
Fewer mosques claim debunked
Meanwhile, Amirudin on July 28 also debunked a claim by former works minister Mohd Zin Mohamad, that there were fewer mosques in Selangor in 2020 compared to 2008, and less allocated to run them.
Mohd Zin, a former Selangor Umno leader who is now campaigning for PN, cited various data but did not state his source.
However, Selangor government newspaper SelangorKini cited Jais as saying there are 436 mosques registered in Selangor as of Oct 2022, up from 384 in 2010.
Malaysiakini’s checks on the Jais website found 425 mosques listed in its directory.
Mohd Zin also cited a dip in allowance for mosque staff in 2020.
However, he did not mention that this was because part of the allowance was supported by zakat, and there was a reduction in zakat paid during the pandemic.
This prompted the Selangor government to step in to make up the shortfall, ensuring take home allowances of mosque staff remained at RM1,430, Berita Harian reported at the time.
Malaysiakini is part of the Malaysian fact-checking alliance JomCheck.
Through JomCheck, Malaysians can submit requests to fact-check a claim by sending a WhatsApp message to the tipline at 017-477 6659 (WhatsApp text only, no calls), or via this link. - Mkini
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