Accra:Increased funding for Islamic affairs management and development under Budget 2027 is expected to create more opportunities to enhance Islamic education, preserve scholarly traditions, promote dakwah, and safeguard the welfare of religious educators and personnel.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Friday sermon titled 'Amanah Ditunai, Manfaat Dituai' (Fulfilling Trusts, Reaping Benefits), prepared by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), emphasized that the true value of an allocation lies in the good it delivers to the people, beyond the figures announced.
The sermon acknowledged that behind the figures announced during the tabling of Budget 2027 is the hope of improving public well-being. It highlighted that increased attention has been given to Islamic affairs management and development, with allocations rising compared to the previous year. It stressed the importance of managing responsibilities with knowledge and integrity to transform these figures into tangible benefits for education, protection, and well-being.
The sermon also supported the focus on pondok education and turath studies, emphasizing that these institutions nurture students to love knowledge, respect teachers, and explore Islamic scholarly heritage. Efforts to strengthen these institutions are crucial to ensuring the continued study, understanding, and transmission of Islamic knowledge to future generations. Additionally, digital facilities and skills training are being provided to pondok teachers and students.
It was highlighted that integrating technology is not meant to replace religious texts or diminish teachers' roles but to widely and effectively disseminate knowledge while preserving the identity of Islamic education. The sermon illustrated how digital skills could enable a pondok teacher's knowledge to reach more students, allowing religious texts to be accessible to distant communities.
The sermon also appreciated the government's focus on 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 noted improved social protection for mosque personnel, including imams, bilals, siak, and takmir teachers.
On national financial governance, the sermon urged leaders and the public to learn from the administrative model of Prophet Yusuf, highlighting the importance of trustworthiness and knowledge. It conveyed three key messages national resources must be managed responsibly, allocations should be assessed based on their actual benefits to the people, and all parties should fulfill their responsibilities through honest management and efficient institutions.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in the tabling of Budget 2027 on October 9, announced an increase in the allocation for religious affairs to RM3.1 billion from RM2.6 billion this year. Initiatives include a special monthly incentive of RM150 for 500 KAFA teachers working with special needs pupils and full government coverage of Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) contributions for 40,000 mosque personnel.
To preserve turath scholarship, the government plans to establish the Malaysian Pondok and Turath Advisory Council. JAKIM will also work with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) to provide devices and digital skills training to teachers and students at over 300 pondok schools nationwide.