PUTRAJAYA, April 5 (Bernama) -- The Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) will distribute one-off Early Ramadan Assistance and Aidilfitri Assistance amounting to RM800 to a total of 30,300 recipients of Monthly Financial Assistance in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Idris Ahmad said the Early Ramadan Assistance of RM300 was paid in stages starting yesterday while Aidilfitri Assistance of RM500 would be paid in the third week of Ramadan.

"(Assistance) of RM300 is an additional contribution in the month of Ramadan to those who receive monthly assistance (MAIWP). This is another added value we give to existing recipients or the needy.

"Use this assistance as best you can. Hopefully, this assistance can ease your burden in Ramadan rituals and preparing for Aidilfitri," he told the media after the Ihya 'Ramadan Aid ceremony and presentation of Appointment Letter to amil chiefs and Zakat Fitrah Year 1443H amils here today.

At the ceremony, Idris also presented Ihya' Ramadan assistance amounting to RM9.46 million for the purpose of enlivening 811 mosques, Friday suraus and suraus in Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, where 89 mosques received RM15,000 each, aid of RM12,500 each to 123 Friday suraus and RM11,000 each to 599 suraus.

Idris said the funds were channelled for mosques and suraus to use them for breaking fast and sahur programmes during the month of Ramadan along with entertainment and spiritual appreciation of knowledge.

In the meantime, Idris also advised parties who broadcast the call to prayer for breaking fast, to be more careful after an incident of breaking the fast prematurely, to ensure it does not recur.

"Those in charge of such affairs, whether it is the call to prayer or the siren marking sahur or breaking of fast, must be reliable.

"If they do that on purpose, then they are guilty for individuals who unintentionally break their fast too early because they hear the Maghrib call on the radio which is broadcast earlier than its time," he said.

A presenter of a local radio station in Tawau apologised after it was reported that the Maghrib call was broadcast four minutes earlier in the district last Sunday.

At the ceremony, Idris also presented letters of appointment to eight recipients representing 74 amil chiefs and 809 amils appointed by MAIWP for the purpose of collecting zakat fitrah this year.

 -- BERNAMA