A total of 119,933 houses under the 1Malaysia Housing Project (PR1MA) have been approved for construction nationwide to date, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

This included 8,547 PR1MA houses approved for Sarawak, he said when replying to a question by Wong Ling Biu (DAP-Sarikei) on whether the PR1MA project would be implemented in the Sarikei parliamentary constituency.

"At the moment, there is no PR1MA programme for Sarikei but we are prepared to start a project if there is an application or new land provided by the state government," he said at the Dewan Rakyat Wednesday.

PR1MA is aimed at assisting middle income people within the RM2,500 to RM10,000 monthly income bracket, as well as factors on age level and total liabilities to own houses.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said the Malaysian Syariah Index was a pioneering and forward effort by the government to strengthen Malaysia's commitment as an Islamic country.

He said the government's sincerity would be measured in enhancing Islamic laws by the Malaysian Syariah Index Technical Committee comprising Islamic leaders and experts in various aspects.

He said measuring the five thrusts of Maqasid Syariah under the index, including preservation of the religion, life, mind, ancestry and wealth had been adopted in the community even though they were not currently labelled as an Islamic product.

Jamil Khir was replying to a question by Datuk Irmohizam Ibrahim (BN-Kuala Selangor) on how the Malaysian Syariah Index could assist in identifying areas of improvements and how it would benefit the people.