Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah State Level Circumcision Programme, an annual event organised by the Sabah State Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jheains), will be implemented twice a year.
Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Ruslan Muharam, said the programme, which was previously only held once a year, has seen encouraging demand from parents.
“This annual programme not only gets a response but also helps parents from the B40 group, converts and the poor because it is fully borne by Jheains.
“Therefore, I welcome the efforts of Jheains who agreed to my proposal to implement this programme twice a year because there are still many children out there who need this service.”
He said this when met after officiating at the Sabah State Mosque, recently, which was also attended by Jheains Director Datuk Jumain Abdul Ghani.
A total of 150 children from the B40 group and converts aged 10 to 16 years old participated in the programme backed by Sabah Islamic Religious Council (Muis).
Meanwhile, Jumain said the twice yearly circumcision programme will be implemented this year as well and the same event for the second time will be held after June, depending on the long school holidays.
“Jheains also fully covered the cost of this circumcision involving 150 children at a cost of RM180 per head covering circumcision costs, food and so on.
“We are also studying to increase this number but many aspects must be taken into account, especially regarding time.
“Even the circumcision of 150 people today is scheduled to only be completed after (evening) prayers,” he said.
