KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Increased allocations for Islamic affairs management and development under Budget 2027 will create greater opportunities to strengthen Islamic education, preserve scholarly traditions, promote dakwah and safeguard the welfare of religious educators and personnel.
The Friday khutbah (sermon), titled “Amanah Ditunai, Manfaat Dituai” (Fulfilling Trusts, Reaping Benefits), prepared by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), reminded Muslims today that the value of an allocation lies in the good it delivers to the people, not merely in the amount announced.
“Behind the various figures announced during the tabling of Budget 2027 lies the hope of improving public well-being. Greater attention has been given to the management and development of Islamic affairs, with allocations increased compared with the previous year.
“When responsibilities are managed with knowledge and integrity, the figures recorded can be transformed into education, protection and well-being. The figures remain in the documents. The benefits must reach people's lives,” the sermon text said.
The sermon also welcomed the focus on pondok education and turath studies, noting that these institutions were more than rows of buildings or historical legacies. They nurtured students to love knowledge, respect teachers and explore the scholarly heritage of Islamic scholars.
“Efforts to strengthen pondok institutions and turath studies are important to ensure that the heritage of Islamic knowledge continues to be studied, understood and passed on to future generations. At the same time, digital facilities and skills training are being provided to pondok teachers and students,” the sermon said.
It stressed that integrating technology was not intended to replace religious texts or diminish the role of teachers, but to help disseminate knowledge more widely and effectively, enabling Islamic education to progress without losing its identity when guided by knowledge and proper conduct.
“Imagine a pondok teacher who has been teaching in a small classroom. With digital skills, the teacher's knowledge can reach more students. A religious text studied at one pondok can be learned by communities in distant places,” the sermon said.
The sermon also welcomed the government's attention to the welfare of Al-Quran and Fardu Ain Class (KAFA) teachers who educate pupils with special needs, including through sign language and Braille Quran instruction. It also highlighted stronger social protection coverage for mosque personnel, including imams, bilals, siak and takmir teachers.
“Their duties are not easy. Some teachers move their hands to teach a child about Allah through sign language. Some pupils cannot see, but touch Braille dots to read the words of God,” the sermon said.
On national financial governance, the sermon urged leaders and the public to draw lessons from the administrative model of Prophet Yusuf, which emphasised two key qualities: hafiz (trustworthiness in safeguarding responsibilities) and alim (knowledgeable).
It outlined three key messages: national resources must be managed as a trust, guided by knowledge and careful planning; allocations must be assessed based on their actual benefits to the people; and all parties must fulfil their responsibilities through honest management, efficient institutions and public use of the facilities provided.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling Budget 2027 on Oct 9, announced that the allocation for religious affairs would be increased to RM3.1 billion, from RM2.6 billion this year.
The initiatives include a special monthly incentive of RM150 for 500 KAFA teachers working with pupils with special needs, as well as the government’s full coverage of Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) contributions through the Lembaga Tabung Haji for 40,000 mosque personnel, including imams, bilals, tok siak, noja, marbut and takmir teachers.
To preserve turath scholarship, the government will establish the Malaysian Pondok and Turath Advisory Council. JAKIM will also collaborate with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) to provide devices and digital skills training to teachers and students at more than 300 pondok schools nationwide.
-- BERNAMA