Federal Territories Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) director Paimuzi Yahya has defended the Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation's (Yapeim) move to organise a marriage course in Paris, stating that it was meant to save money.

He said that students who participated in the programme would have incurred more cost if it was not for the event being organised in Paris.

“The marriage course (in Paris) was cheaper for the overseas students’ budget,” he told journalists in Bangi today.

He said the programme meant that students need not need to fork out money to return to Malaysia simply to attend the course.

“When the course is done overseas where we bring together some 150 people together with two or three speakers, the cost is low (for students).

“So that is the benefit for students overseas,” he said.

Paimuzi pointed out that the marriage course is compulsory for future newlyweds.

He was asked to respond to revelations by National Oversight and Whistleblowers director Akmal Nasir that the event last year cost RM290,000.

Akmal had questioned if the event was to justify overseas trips for key personalities in the government.

Yapeim, a government-backed charity foundation, was embroiled in controversy over its spending which included events in the US, France and Australia.

The marriage course was organised by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) in cooperation with Yapeim and supported by several religious agencies including Jawi.