MAINJ improves housing assistance for asnaf
ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAINJ) has enhanced its home construction and repair assistance scheme, to provide better support for the asnaf (those eligible to receive tithe) across the state.
State Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid said the improvements include raising the allocation for new house construction from RM78,000 to RM96,000, and increasing the repair cost ceiling from RM18,000 to RM20,000.
'The objective of this scheme is to provide comfortable and safe housing for the asnaf, improve the living standards of the low-income group according to the had kifayah, and reduce the financial burden related to housing,' he said, at the Johor State Legislative Assembly sitting in Kota Iskandar, here, today.
He said this in his reply to a question from Datuk Jefridin Atan (BN-Kukup), regarding MAINJ's role in supporting Muslims without home ownership, through its housing construction and repair assistance scheme.
Mohd Fared said that the scheme was first introduced in 2009.
'From 2009 to 2023, a total of 1,125 houses were repaired, at a cost of RM14.79 million, while 1,286 new houses were built, with an expenditure of RM50.39 million,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: When commuting is a walk in the park
UNLESS people live off the grid, they would want homes near basic conveniences. With access to government services, supermarkets, schools and clinics, people also prefer living near bus or taxi terminals or commuter train stations for easy travel to the city. Residential areas near such transportation hubs have been fortunate to have infrastructure built around them. In the future, the plan is to reverse this: the National Transport Policy 2019–2030 (NTP) states that new housing projects will be developed on or near public transport stations. This concept, exemplified by the Kota Madani housing project, offers residences for low-income groups seeking a sustainable and organised urban lifestyle. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in introducing the concept, said it might require changes to existing regulations, as such housing projects promote broader use of the public transport system. Anwar's announcement is timely, as public transport usage stands at only 20 per cent nationwide, significantly below the 40 per cent target set in the NTP. The challenge, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke, is ensuring that the NTP achieves its goals. Anwar's initiative marks a significant step toward addressing low public transport usage. Building homes near transit stations could help resolve this issue. Still, as Loke said, the challenges are entrenched. Low public transport usage stems from inconvenient routes, unreliable service, frequent delays, poor last-mile connectivity, and the social perception of car ownership as a status symbol. Since the mid-1980s, Malaysia's push into industrialisation spurred domestic car production, making private vehicle ownership easy, affordable and widespread. The obsession with cars is exemplified by the six million vehicles entering Kuala Lumpur daily, 2.2 million during peak hours. For public transport to succeed — like Hong Kong's MTR or Singapore's MRT — the government must make tough policy decisions to reduce driving and incentivise bus and train usage. One approach would be to impose a congestion charge for city entry to encourage greater use of buses and trains. Other than limited parking, the measure most hated by motorists is paying to enter the city. Inconsistent schedules, Delays and overcrowding — though frustrating — are issues of management and efficiency, not infrastructure failure. The same applies to poor last-mile connectivity, inadequate waiting areas, and substandard bus infrastructure. In short, there must be a competent system — or artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions — to manage scheduling and operations. As for those living off-grid or in remote areas, an AI-enabled e-hailing service could offer a practical mobility solution. Balancing these complex factors — improving public transport while managing urban traffic congestion — remains the ultimate challenge.
New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- New Straits Times
When commuting is a walk in the park
UNLESS people live off the grid, they would want homes near basic conveniences. With access to government services, supermarkets, schools and clinics, people also prefer living near bus or taxi terminals or commuter train stations for easy travel to the city. Residential areas near such transportation hubs have been fortunate to have infrastructure built around them. In the future, the plan is to reverse this: the National Transport Policy 2019–2030 (NTP) states that new housing projects will be developed on or near public transport stations. This concept, exemplified by the Kota Madani housing project, offers residences for low-income groups seeking a sustainable and organised urban lifestyle. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in introducing the concept, said it might require changes to existing regulations, as such housing projects promote broader use of the public transport system. Anwar's announcement is timely, as public transport usage stands at only 20 per cent nationwide, significantly below the 40 per cent target set in the NTP. The challenge, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke, is ensuring that the NTP achieves its goals. Anwar's initiative marks a significant step toward addressing low public transport usage. Building homes near transit stations could help resolve this issue. Still, as Loke said, the challenges are entrenched. Low public transport usage stems from inconvenient routes, unreliable service, frequent delays, poor last-mile connectivity, and the social perception of car ownership as a status symbol. Since the mid-1980s, Malaysia's push into industrialisation spurred domestic car production, making private vehicle ownership easy, affordable and widespread. The obsession with cars is exemplified by the six million vehicles entering Kuala Lumpur daily, 2.2 million during peak hours. For public transport to succeed — like Hong Kong's MTR or Singapore's MRT — the government must make tough policy decisions to reduce driving and incentivise bus and train usage. One approach would be to impose a congestion charge for city entry to encourage greater use of buses and trains. Other than limited parking, the measure most hated by motorists is paying to enter the city. Inconsistent schedules, Delays and overcrowding — though frustrating — are issues of management and efficiency, not infrastructure failure. The same applies to poor last-mile connectivity, inadequate waiting areas, and substandard bus infrastructure. In short, there must be a competent system — or artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions — to manage scheduling and operations. As for those living off-grid or in remote areas, an AI-enabled e-hailing service could offer a practical mobility solution. Balancing these complex factors — improving public transport while managing urban traffic congestion — remains the ultimate challenge.
New Straits Times
20 hours ago
- New Straits Times
PMB Dana Al-Aiman declares 2.52 sen distribution for FY2025
KUALA LUMPUR: PMB Investment Bhd has announced a 2.52 sen per unit income distribution for its PMB Dana Al-Aiman fund for the financial year ended May 31, 2025, totalling RM4.46 million. The net asset value (NAV) per unit before the distribution was 40.46 sen, adjusted to 37.94 sen after the distribution. The distribution, based on the ex-date of May 31, 2025, represents a yield of 5.01 per cent based on the fund's closing NAV. PMB Investment chief investment officer Hang Tuah Amin Tajudin said PMB Dana Al-Aiman continues to deliver respectable income while preserving capital. He noted that the fund recorded a three-year cumulative return of 16.76 per cent or an average annual return of 5.56 per cent as of May 31, 2025. "This achievement reflects our disciplined investment approach, strong governance standards, and commitment to creating sustainable value for our investors," he said. Meanwhile, PMB Investment chairman Datuk Mohd Idzwan Izuddin Ab Rahman said PMB Dana Al-Aiman holds a special place in the company's journey as the pioneer fund of PMB Investment. "Its sustained performance over the decades reflects our unwavering dedication to ethical investing and prudent fund management. "As we navigate an increasingly complex market environment, our focus remains on delivering long-term value to our unitholders while upholding the principles of Shariah compliance and financial integrity," he added. Launched in 1968, PMB Dana Al-Aiman is PMB Investment's first fund. Under normal circumstances, the fund allocates between 70 per cent and 99.5 per cent of its NAV to Shariah-compliant equities and equity-related securities. The remaining portion is invested in Islamic money market instruments, Islamic deposit placements, sukuk, and other Shariah-compliant permitted investments. The equity allocation is actively reviewed based on global, regional, and domestic economic and market conditions.
