Azlan Othman
Efforts undertaken to reduce crime relating to Syariah law include education programmes on its law, public awareness campaigns with agencies such as the Islamic Legal Unit, stepping up monitoring, counselling led by the Islamic Da’wah Centre on religious understanding, and amending the law when a loophole is found.
Minister of Religious Affairs Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman said this at the 19th Legislative Council (LegCo) session in response to LegCo member Yang Berhormat Hajah Rosmawatty binti Haji Abdul Momin’s query on strategic plans by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) to reduce the crime rate.
Offences that have been brought to court include close proximity, incest, attempt to commit adultery, drinking and possessing alcoholic drinks, insulting Islam and divorce without legal consent, not reporting divorce and marriage outside the country without approval from the Syariah Court.
The minister said based on the statistics, there were 326 prosecuted cases solved last year compared to 168 in 2021.
“This was not due to a drop in cases, but the absence of court hearing following the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Meanwhile, asked by LegCo member Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Suyoi bin Haji Osman on the BND3-million budget allocated to run mosque activities, the minister said the budget is not just confined to organising mosque activities, but also to pay salary to imam and bilal.
The minister added that to repair damages to mosques, if it is substantial, a budget will be allocated by the government. In addition, Mosque Construction Fund is also utilised for maintenance works.
The minister said from 2015 to 2022, the fund received BND28.5 million, of which BND7 million has been spent so far. Out of the amount received, contributions from public servants were between BND150,000 to BND200,000.
There are 10 mosque zones and a budget of BND50,000 has been allocated to each zone, the minister added.
Meanwhile, asked by LegCo member Yang Berhormat Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin on future haj or umrah pilgrims to invest in gold that is anti-inflation and gives good return of investment, Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin said there are no objections to gold investment if it makes profit.
Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah said there are several factors that affect the price of gold. After the global financial crisis in 2008, the price of gold increased. But from 2013-2019, there was not much increase in price, he added.