Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom says the mufti’s post will be upgraded to be similar to state exco members and muftis will receive similar benefits.

This was decided at the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs meeting in Putrajaya this morning chaired by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and attended by menteris besar, state religious exco members and representatives from state Islamic religious councils nationwide.

“The upgrading in terms of status, protocol, employment, salary, allowance and benefits enjoyed by exco members is to raise the status so that religious  administration is held in high esteem,” he told reporters in Bangi today.

Upgrading of the post would be done at state level and implemented once the consent was received from the sultans, rulers and yang di-pertuas negeri.

Jamil Khir also raised at the meeting, a proposal to upgrade state deputy muftis to Grade S54 compared to grades S44, S48 and S52 currently.

Earlier, he attended a ‘Minda Menteri’ programme with the second series of Islamic Management Diploma participants at the Islamic Training Institute Malaysia in Bangi.

- Bernama