Malaysia's 2017 Budget benefits Islamic finance firms, imams, religious teachers

The 2017 Budget for Malaysia has benefits for Islamic finance, religious teachers, imams as well as caretakers of mosques.

To maintain Malaysia as an international Islamic financial centre, Malaysia Prime Minister and Minister for finance YAB Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Haji Abdul Razak announced as part of the 2017 Budget that the period of income tax exemption to entities carrying out Islamic banking and takaful business through the International Currency Business Unit (ICBU) in foreign currencies as well as stamp duty exemption on instruments of such activities, will be extended to the year of assessment 2020.

The government further recognised the work of imams by increasing their monthly allowance via JAKIM from RM750 to RM850. "This will benefit nearly 15,000 imams throughout the nation," he said.

A one-off payment amounting to RM500 will also be given to nearly 16,000 bilal and siak (Editor's note: the ones who perform the call to prayer and the ones who look after mosques respectively) throughout the nation to appreciate their service in managing mosques.

Kelas Agama Fardu Ain (KAFA, an organisation that conducts religious classes) teachers will see their allowance increased from RM800 to RM900 a month, benefitting nearly 33,000 KAFA teachers, PM Najib added, while tahfiz education (Editor's note: education around memorisation of the Quran) will be coordinated through the National Tahfiz Education Policy to the tune of RM30 million.

PM Najib also took the opportunity to welcome 23,000 Hajj pilgrims home.

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National Imam Roundtable in Malaysia emphasises importance of mosque tourism

Source: ITC. The first National Imam Roundtable – Mosque Tourism Edition was officiated by YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia on 23 February 2016.

ITC, along with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) has conducted the inaugural National Imam Roundtable – Mosque Tourism Edition from 22 to 24 February 2016.

The discussion, attended by 80 Imams and Mosque committee members from all over Malaysia, aimed to create understanding, awareness and acceptance for mosque tourism among the management of mosques. The event was a follow-on of the Konvensyen Masjid-Masjid Pelancong Malaysia 2014 which was jointly organised by JAKIM, The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP), ITC and Putra Mosque.