At RM810m, is Jakim's budget inflated? The new minister says no

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PUTRAJAYA, July 7 – Taxpayers will contribute RM 810.89 million to the budget of functioning of the Department of Islamic Development of Malaysia (Jakim) this year, but the newly issued religious affairs Minister Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa believes that this is justified

The Minister at the Prime Minister's Department said that a "huge amount" of budget allocation goes into the pockets of the imam, or mosque chief of each state, as well as to help finance the management of registered Islamic schools.

"Although state governments are supposed to do that, they do not have the capacity to bear the costs, so we have to refuel," he also denied rumors that Jakim would be dissolved under the Pakatan Harapan government, and stressed that the agency is vital for the proper functioning of the current administration. "

]" Jakim, and his collaborators are one of our concerns, and that is one of the most important agencies that needs to be reformed. "

" It takes a new face with new ideas but everything remains to be improved. "The question of the abolition of Jakim has not been asked at all," Mujahid said.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad announced the establishment of a new committee to evaluate Jakim. Formally established as part of the Prime Minister's Department in 1997, Jakim's allocation has steadily increased from RM 582 million in 2011 to between RMB 700 and RM 800 million per year.

But Mujahid was uncertain the status of the Institute for Strategic Islamic Research of Malaysia (Iksim), which was used in the past as a political tool to attack political dissidents

Mujahid himself was a target, with Datuk Mahamad Naser Disa, general manager of Iksim. labeling him and other opposition politicians as supporters of liberalism, pluralism and LGBT people.

Party leader Amanah Negara said that he would consult the Council of The time has come for him to decide the fate of Iksim.

"I'm not comfortable when Iksim is used for political attacks, it can stay, or even go in. If he wants to stay, he has to come to terms of understanding," he said.

The think tank was established on December 9, 2014 by Jakim, the National Council of Islamic Affairs and the state religious authorities with the consent of the leaders conference, and part of its agenda was to oppose secularism, liberalism and pluralism.

A former director of Iksim was the predecessor of Mujahid Seruk Datu Jamil Khir Baharom, and it is possible that Mujahid be old shoes.