The percentage of mosque congregants in 2023 exceeded the target of a 2 per cent increase, reaching a growth rate higher than anticipated. This success was attributed to the development of conducive and user-friendly mosque infrastructure, as well as the implementation of programs and the improvement in the competency and quality of mosque officers.
Youth participation in religious programs also saw remarkable success. The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) aimed to add 200 youths but achieved an additional 1,050 participants. This positive outcome was credited to the implementation of engaging programs, workshops, and activities tailored to youth involvement.
However, the ministry faced challenges in reaching its target for the number of converts to Islam. The goal was to secure 500 new Muslims, but only 319 were recorded. This shortfall was attributed to various challenges, including misconceptions and lack of understanding about Islam.
Meanwhile, the targeted percentage of residents performing the Haj pilgrimage for the first time was exceeded. The original goal of 80 per cent was surpassed with a 80.3 per cent achievement, thanks to the successful implementation of the Bru-Haj system.
These updates were shared by the Minister of Religious Affairs, Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, during at the ongoing 21st Legislative Council session on Monday.
In terms of strategic focus on Dakwah, the minister highlighted the ministry’s plans to continuously implement Islam understanding programs, enhance the competency of religious speakers, and foster collaborations with local and international Dakwah agencies.
Regarding Social Welfare and Security guarantees, the minister shared that the target for assisting the Asnaf Poor and Needy was set at 65 per cent, but only 56.35 per cent was achieved. This gap was attributed to insufficient awareness among the Asnaf about opportunities to improve their circumstances and escape poverty.
While the target for reducing divorce cases was set at -5 per cent, the number of divorce cases actually increased by 0.64 per cent. One of the key challenges faced in monitoring divorce data was the difficulty in obtaining comprehensive figures, as the data was solely sourced from the Syariah Court. The rise in cases was also linked to social and economic issues.
The target for reducing Syariah court cases was set at -5 per cent, with the ministry successfully achieving a reduction of -10.57 per cent.
The ministry will review its data collection mechanisms, focusing on integrating complaint and divorce case data from the Syariah Court. Additionally, efforts will be made to improve coordination between the Family Counselling Services Section (BKNK), the Syariah Affairs Department (JHES), and the Syariah Court to obtain more accurate and comprehensive data.
MORA will also optimise internal data sources such as Mal complaints, counseling sessions, and family intervention records. This will help track divorce trends and expand marriage awareness and guidance programs, aiming to reduce divorce cases and improve intervention effectiveness.
In the area of Halal compliance, the ministry targeted a 41 per cent rate of entrepreneurs meeting Halal requirements. However, only 14.43 per cent was achieved. This shortfall was attributed to challenges with non-compliance to the Halal Certificate and Halal Label Order of 2005, which affected the compliance rate. Despite this, not all non-compliance issues directly impacted the Halal status of the premises.
Looking ahead, MORA plans to revise Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to focus on serious violations of Halal compliance. The ministry will also implement measures to classify corrective actions into minor and major errors, giving businesses an opportunity to correct issues before they are considered non-compliant. Strengthening monitoring and guidance systems will also help businesses improve compliance without significantly affecting their overall assessment. – Lyna Mohammad
