By Siti Rohaizah Zainal
SUBANG JAYA, July 7 — As of last month, 450 private tahfiz institutions have registered with the Selangor Quran Tahfiz Institutions Association (Pitas) to join the 'whitening programme.'
State executive councillor for Islamic affairs Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah urged private tahfiz operators who have not yet registered to do so immediately to avoid closure.
"Based on our records, we have identified 724 tahfiz (centres) operating without registering with the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais), and as of last month, 450 of them had registered with Pitas.
[caption id="attachment_363050" align="alignright" width="384"]
Seri Setia state assemblyman and state executive councillor for Islamic affairs Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah during the Jualan Ehsan Rahman programme at Dewan D'Kelana’s parking lot in Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya, on July 8, 2024. — Picture by MOHD KHAIRUL HELMY MOHD DIN/ MEDIASELANGOR[/caption]
“All tahfiz institutions that registered with Pitas will participate in the whitening programme next year. This will allow us to include them in the limited planning permission application to determine whether they can continue to operate or need to relocate.
“This process is implemented so that we can understand the true situation of these tahfiz institutions and make future plans.
“The deadline is set for next December. If they fail to comply, we will not hesitate to close them,” he said during the Jualan Ehsan Rahman programme at Dewan D'Kelana’s parking lot in Kelana Jaya today.
Fahmi added that the state government will soon announce a new policy regarding the development of religious schools in Selangor.
“We acknowledge the need for religious schools in some districts, but there needs to be forward planning, including understanding the student capacity in each area.
"That is why we do a whitening programme, to gather real data and determine the future opening of religious schools. We introduce a new policy, and the method will be announced in the near future," he said.
Meanwhile, Fahmi said that Jais is still investigating Ustaz Don Daniyal Don Biyajid regarding the accuracy of the facts used in his lectures in the state.
He said the department has the right to request a written explanation from the preacher or summon him if necessary.
"The issue involving Ustaz Don is currently being thoroughly investigated and scrutinsed by Jais.
“Whether he has been summoned or not is part of Jais's ongoing internal investigation process. We will leave it to Jais to investigate," Fahmi said.
