A special Aidilfitri payment of RM400 will be made to 66,258 mosque officials and religious teachers (Kafa teachers) nationwide, with the sum deposited into their individual bank accounts, said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

"The total cost for this payment is RM26.5 million and the sum has been channelled to the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim)," he said.

Lim said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had instructed that mosque officials be given a special Aidilfitri payment, similar to that given to certain categories of federal civil service employees.

Lim explained that this payment was not part of the People's Cost-of-Living Allowance (formerly known as BR1M) that was paid separately.

"The Federal Government has also channelled RM1.6 billion to almost 4.1 million recipients of the Cost-of-Living Allowance beginning June 6.

"Hopefully, these incentives will help in some way in the Aidilfitri preparations of the recipients nationwide," he said.

- Bernama