IPOH: A total of 1,006 religious educational institutions have been registered under the Perak Islamic Religious Department, but only a small fraction have secured the necessary planning approvals from local authorities.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said only 85 or 8.4% have obtained planning permission from the relevant local authorities.
“I urge all stakeholders, especially institution administrators and technical agencies, to come together to formulate a coordinated and comprehensive solution.
“This will help avoid any untoward incidents in the future,” he said in his speech at a seminar on sustaining the integrity and development of religious education institutions held at the state secretariat building here on Thursday (July 10).
Saarani said the registered institutions include Islamic kindergartens, religious primary and secondary schools, private religious schools, pondok schools, tahfiz centres and the Akademi Insan Muda Ar-Ridzuan.
He said the state was optimistic that the registration and compliance gap could be gradually and systematically closed.
Saarani said registration of such institutions allowed the state to keep track of the schools’ locations, ensure eligibility for state or federal aid, and facilitate proper monitoring.
“Without official registration, we cannot channel any form of assistance to them.
“In addition to registration, schools located within local council jurisdictions are also required to obtain planning permission,” he said.
