KUALA LUMPUR: The government is in the process of amending guidelines for the application of non-Muslim houses of worship (RIBI), the Dewan Rakyat heard today.
Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said the amendments would include a regulation prohibiting applications from RIBIs that have already received government assistance.
"The amendments will stipulate that RIBIs which have received funding will be prohibited from submitting new applications for a three-year period," she said during the minister's question time in Parliament.
Aiman Athirah said this in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib (PN-Maran), who asked about the ministry's plans to ensure the allocation for RIBIs is not repeatedly granted to the same places of worship each year.
She added that every RIBI assistance application received by the ministry, whether submitted directly or through the online e-RIBI system, undergoes thorough screening.
"The applications are assessed by the evaluation and monitoring team before being presented to the task force meeting for the RIBI maintenance initiative across the country.
"The frequency of these meetings is increased depending on the volume of applications submitted," she said.
Aiman Athirah added that the ministry has approved an RM24.8 million allocation for 205 RIBIs nationwide.
"As of Sept 30 this year, the ministry has received a total of 1,074 applications.
"Out of these, 422 applications have been approved, involving allocations totalling RM46.1 million," she said.
She added that the government, through the 2025 Budget, has also allocated an additional RM50 million to continue the RIBI initiative.
The ministry, she said, aims to provide funding to approximately 200 RIBIs, with a maximum allocation of RM250,000 per RIBI.
"The target of 200 RIBIs may increase if the amounts requested fall below the stipulated maximum limit," she said.