Penang Raises Allowances For KAFA Teachers, Mosque Officials From October

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- The Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) has raised the monthly allowances for Kelas Al-Quran and Fardu Ain (KAFA) teachers and head teachers by RM200 to RM1,700 and RM1,800, respectively, effective October.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid, who is also MAINPP president, said the increase was made possible by stronger zakat collections and reflected the state government's commitment to safeguarding the welfare of KAFA teachers.

“This is the second increase, following a RM200 adjustment on July 1, 2025. The latest increase involves an additional RM3.96 million from zakat funds, bringing the total annual allocation to RM11.19 million.

“It benefits 1,650 teachers at 208 KAFA premises and 14 KAFA-related schools,” he told reporters after launching the 2026 KAFA Teachers, Mosque Officers and Siak Gathering at Dewan Al-Ansar, Masjid Al-Muhajirin in Seberang Jaya today.

He said the working hours (WKB) for all KAFA teachers in the state would also be standardised at four hours a day, covering the 30 minutes before and after each teaching and learning (PdP) session to ensure the safety of 60,000 KAFA pupils.

Mohamad said the WKB would be introduced with an adjustment period from Oct 1 to Dec 31, before full implementation begins on Jan 2, 2027.

He said the state government had also introduced RM2,200 maternity assistance for KAFA teachers in 2025, in addition to standardising KAFA premises' operating days at five days a week and requiring all KAFA teachers to undergo compulsory annual training.

Meanwhile, he said the allowances for 1,364 mosque officers and siak appointed by the state government would also be increased from October, covering imam, bilal and siak at management and kariah mosques, with an additional allocation of RM1.76 million, bringing the total annual allocation to RM3.426 million.

“For the nine management mosques under the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAIPP), the imam's allowance will increase by RM400 to RM1,000 a month, while the allowances for bilal and siak will each rise by RM300 to RM800.

“For the 209 kariah mosques, the allowances for imam, bilal and siak will each be increased by RM100, bringing the monthly allowance to RM950 for imam and RM600 for bilal and siak. The last review of allowances for mosque officers and siak was carried out in 2023,” he said.

Mohamad said 32 imam, 16 bilal and 16 siak currently serve at the nine JHEAIPP management mosques, including the state mosque, district mosques and city mosque, while the kariah mosques have 436 imam, 432 bilal and 432 siak.

-- BERNAMA