By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, Nov 11 — The state government has allocated RM5 million under the 2024 Selangor Budget to strengthen the management of its Islamic endowment (wakaf) and support its students studying abroad.
During the budget’s tabling yesterday, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the strategic move will see a substantial part of the allocation towards establishing a Middle East Student Development and Management Trust Fund, among other things.
The fund’s primary initiative includes developing a second ‘Rumah Selangor’ project in Egypt, which will be designated as a dormitory to accommodate Selangor students there.
In addition, he said the state government has increased its allocation for Hajj pilgrims under the ‘Kita Selangor’ initiative, which provides RM500 to each pilgrim.
The allocation has been raised to RM3 million for 2024, up from RM1.5 million this year.
On a separate matter, Amirudin announced a RM25 million allocation to construct the Gombak Permai Islamic Complex, which will house a new mosque, quarters for imams and bilals, and two new religious primary schools.
He said the development of the complex will significantly enhance religious facilities and Islamic education for the local community.
The fourth main thrust of the state budget, to foster unity among the ‘ummah’, includes the following initiatives:
- RM2 million for the Turath Islami Festival
- RM500,000 to empower the state’s Fatwa Institution
- RM200,000 to improve the Selangor students’ dormitories in Egypt
- RM700,000 to upgrade mosque facilities
- RM5 million to subsidise the assistance for Islamic religious school fees (Kafai) (one-off)
- RM1 million for the Quran Literacy Academy
- RM2 million for mosque management programmes
