Budget 2025: PGSM Urges Continued Funding For Syariah Legal Aid

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Syariah Lawyers Association (PGSM) is hopeful that the government will continue to provide funding for the Syariah Legal Aid Centre (BAGUS-PSGM) in Budget 2025.

PGSM president Musa Awang said the funding would assist single mothers and those in need of financial support to afford syariah legal representation for making or responding to claims in Syariah Courts nationwide.

“BAGUS-PGSM not only offers legal aid services but also provides legal consultation to the Muslim community seeking advice on processes and procedures in Syariah Courts.

“Such assistance is crucial, especially for single mothers going through divorce as they seek custody rights, maintenance and mutaah (divorce compensation) to sustain their lives,” he said in a statement today.

He said from October 2022 to December 2023, PGSM received over 1,498 applications nationwide, with more than 549 of them approved.

Musa said by August this year, over 400 applications were received but had to be postponed due to a lack of allocated funds.

“PGSM hopes the government will allocate a budget or financial resources for the continuity of this programme, ideally RM1.5 million annually, which would assist more than 400 individuals each year.

“The commendable efforts of PGSM, as the main association representing syariah lawyers in the country, deserve support and encouragement from the MADANI Government, aligning with the six core values of sustainability, welfare, creativity, respect, confidence and compassion,” he said.

BAGUS-PGSM has over 400 panel syariah lawyers nationwide. 

Budget 2025, themed ‘Ekonomi MADANI, Negara Makmur, Rakyat Sejahtera,’ will be presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday in Parliament.

-- BERNAMA