TWELVE mosques in the Federal Territories (FT) have been chosen as counselling and complaints centres for victims of domestic abuse, Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff said.

In addition, two mosques – Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan dan Al-Ghufran Mosque in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur – will serve as transit centres for victims.

“This initiative is under the Pelan Pengimarahan Masjid-Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan 2020-2024 and to expand the function of mosques as a local community centre that provides various support including psychosocial and spiritual support,” she said, adding that so far only one individual had sought protection at a mosque.

Siti Zailah was replying to a question raised by Nor Azrina Surip (Merbok-PH) who wanted to know how many domestic abuse victims were receiving protection at mosques, during the question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.

She also said that the proposal to increase the Social Welfare Department’s (JKM) monthly assistance rate to RM1,000 was subject to the government’s approval and financial position.

Siti Zailah said the ministry had submitted the proposal to the Finance Ministry as it involved financial allocation.

“Its implementation would be dependent on the total amount of aid given to a household, and if executed some families would receive more than RM1,900 a month,” she added.

She was replying to a question from Teo Nie Ching (Kulai-PH) who asked when JKM’s monthly assistance of RM1,000 towards persons with disabilities (PwD) would be implemented.

On December 3, last year, former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin gave an assurance that the proposal to raise the amount of JKM’s assistance to RM1,000 a month, compared with the existing RM200 to RM300, would be implemented immediately. – Bernama, October 27, 2021.