The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) proposed nearly BND30 million for financing a number of development projects for the 2024-2025 financial year during the 20th session of the Legislative Council meeting yesterday.
Minister of Religious Affairs Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman during the highlight of the ministry’s budget said BND16.8 million has been allocated to finance several major projects aimed at strengthening access to education facilities with a price plan of BND191.3 million.
This includes the addition of blocks at several religious schools, upgrading the facilities at Hassanal Bolkiah Arabic Boys Secondary School sixth form centre and the development of two new schools at Kampong Kiulap and Kampong Bolkiah.
The minister said BND2.3 million has been allocated to finance a new campus for the Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (price plan of BND23.9 million) and BND200,000 for the construction of the female campus for Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (price plan of BND20 million)
The minister said BND295,000 is allocated for the construction of an Islamic activity centre/religious school in Kampong Senukoh, which has a price plan of BND1.47 million.
Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin said BND9.86 million is allocated to construct 12 mosques with a total price plan of BND64.3 million.
Meanwhile, the minister highlighted that BND234.9 million has been allocated for emoluments (formally known as staff salaries) and BND34.1 million is allocated for recurring expenses.
For expenditures on the objective of Maqasid Syariah, the minister said BND25.5 million has been allocated for activities upholding religion, BND29.4 million for preservation of religion, BND11 million for preservation of life and progeny and BND202.9 million for maintenance of mind. – Azlan Othman
