ISKANDAR PUTERI - The Johor government will join forces with Universiti Tun Hussien Onn Malaysia (UTHM) and Kolej Pengajian Islam Johor (Marsah) to produce certified imams among the graduates.
State Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid said the move was to tackle the shortage of imams, bilals (muezzins) and other mosque workers (noja) in villages or housing areas in the state.
"Each year, UTHM through the Professional Imam Executive Programme produces 85 young imams every year, while Marsah produces 500 young imams through the Muslih Young Imam Programme.
"They will undergo courses to be certified as imams and bilals, so every year Johor will produce young imams who are not only trained but educated," he told reporters outside of the State Legislative Assembly sitting here today.
He said among the factors contributing to the shortage were health issues and relocations among the imams, adding that the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) needed to address the problem immediately.
Therefore, he said early measures were also taken, including allowing residents to undergo a course to become temporary imams and bilals.
Mohd Fared said that so far, Johor has a total of 838 mosques and 1,942 surau with 4,463 mosque officials. - BERNAMA