All States Agree To Increase Working Hours, Days For KAFA Teachers - Mohd Na'im

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- All states have agreed to standardise and increase the working hours and days for teachers of the Quran and Fardhu Ain (KAFA) classes, aiming to further protect the welfare of these educators, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na'im Mokhtar.

He explained that this decision stemmed from an engagement session between the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), the KAFA Implementation Agency at the state level, and the Ministry of Education (MOE), from 2022 to 2024.

Mohd Na'im also noted that only 47 per cent of the available premises meet the requirements for KAFA classes to operate five days a week.

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“In response to the community's concerns for KAFA teachers, and in line with efforts to consider offering permanent positions and pensions for them, the pilot of KAFA Perdana initiative will be implemented to allow an increase in (the number of) hours and working days of KAFA teachers.

He further added that discussions would be held with the Ministry of Finance, regarding the allowance payment for teachers participating in the KAFA Perdana pilot, pending the country’s financial situation and the approval of relevant authorities.

He said that the government, through JAKIM, always strives to safeguard and improve the welfare of the 35,000 KAFA teachers, who are the main machinery of Islamic education learning empowerment in this country.

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Meanwhile, Mohd Na'im said that JAKIM had issued a Malaysia Halal Certification Circular, outlining the decision that applications for Malaysian halal certification should be handled personally by the applicants, without involving third parties.

However, he clarified that while JAKIM, state Islamic religious councils (MAIN) and state religious departments (JAIN) do not prohibit companies from appointing external parties to assist with the development of their halal management systems, these consultants must work towards ensuring compliance with halal certification requirements.

Mohd Na'im also highlighted that JAKIM has strengthened its collaboration with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), through enhanced information sharing and enforcement coordination, to address issues related to deviant teachings. This includes the removal of harmful content on social media platforms.

In another development, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), M. Kulasegaran, said that the proposal to amend the Federal Capital Act 1960, enabling the city administration to function similarly to a state’s local authority, with local councillors, will be given due consideration.

Kulasegaran, who represented Dr Zaliha Mustafa, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), when winding up the debate for the ministry said that the next steps would be taken by the minister including holding a meeting between the mayor, key stakeholders, and Members of Parliament in Kuala Lumpur.

-- BERNAMA