JAKIM TO REVAMP KAFA TEACHERS' WORKING HOURS, ALLOWANCE STRUCTURE

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) is studying the implementation of the Perdana Al-Quran and Fardu Ain (KAFA) Pilot Program, which involves coordinating and changing the working hours of KAFA teachers from three to five days a week and three to nine hours a day.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), Dr Zulkifli Hasan, said JAKIM has completed engagement sessions with stakeholder agencies at the federal and state levels.

"The KAFA Perdana Pilot Program will be implemented after receiving approval from the Ministry of Finance," he said in his winding-up speech to points raised by lawmakers in their debate on the Supply Bill 2025 at the committee level for the Prime Minister's Department in Dewan Rakyat today.

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He said that at the moment, the program's implementation is being proposed to be done in phases, starting with religious school premises for a year and followed by other states, depending on the relevant parties' approval.

In light of the minimum wage increase that will take effect next year, he said JAKIM is also proposing an appropriate rate for the existing KAFA teacher allowance, depending on the country's current financial situation.

On the proposed amendment to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355), Zulkifli said the Special Committee to Study Issues Related to the Competence of the State Legislature to enact Islamic law will examine the proposed amendment and the study report which will be taken into account when drafting the amendment to the act.

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He said the proposed amendment will be presented to the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) and the Council of Rulers for approval before being tabled in the Cabinet.

-- BERNAMA