JEDDAH, 13 August — Jamaat Malabar Muslim (JMM) in Negeri Johor, Malaysia plans to establish an Islamic complex. The project is estimated to cost about one million Malaysian ringitt.
This was disclosed by Hussein Ibrahim, vice president of the non-governmental organization, whose members are mainly the Muslims who migrated to the Malaysian state of Johor from the Indian state of Kerala.
Established in 1964, the organization with 6,000 members runs 18 mosques and Islamic schools in various parts of Johor. “We have very close relationship with the religious office in the state,” the vice president told Arab News.
“We have now become an active NGO involving in various social and humanitarian activities,” he said. Ibrahim highlighted the JMM’s efforts in propagating the message of Islam among non-Muslims.
“About 10 to 12 persons embrace Islam every month in this part of the country. We deem it a big achievement,” he pointed out.
The organization also helps poor families, widows and orphans, providing them with educational and medical aid. Jamaat Malabar group, Hussein Ibrahim said, is embarking on the Islamic complex project with a view to expanding its Islamic and charitable activities.
He said the organization was forced to accept donations from rich people in Malaysia and outside as most of its members are workers with low salaries.
“We have already constructed a concrete structure and to complete and furnish the complex we will require more than 800,000 ringitts,” Ibrahim said. He noted JMM’s efforts for the educational and social uplift of Malabar Muslims in the Malaysian state.