MCA Vice President, Gan Ping Sieu, urges the Ministry of Education to withdraw its decision to make Tamadun Islam a compulsory subject for all local students studying in private institutes of higher learning (IPTS) effective 1 September 2013.
According to Gan, “Tamadun Islam which is derived from the religion of Islam, definitely merits research and further study to the same extent as the other world’s major religion-civilisations, including Judeo-Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist civilisations from the West, India and China. However the study has to be under taken on a voluntary, instead of a compulsory basis.”
Gan further stressed that Article 12(3) of the Federal Constitution ensures freedom of religion for all Malaysian and mandating that local students including non-Muslims at IPTS to study and sit for exams of a religion-civilisation study distinct from his own is an unfair practice.
“Tertiary education shall provide training for technical, specialised and academic studies of various disciplines. Even if religion-civilisation studies is provided as part of a university course, it should be made elective, instead of compulsory subject, as is the practice of top-ranked universities in the world.”
“Ours is a plural society. We shall all endeavour to maintain this blissful nation with its rich diversity. To make study of a single religion-civilisation compulsory for non-followers of that religion-civilisation is a step backward from national harmony. The Ministry should instead introduce the general studies of all major religions-civilisations in secondary schools to promote better understandings and goodwill amongst our younger generation.”
Gan appeals to all Cabinet Ministers and the Ministry of Education to ensure the withdrawal of such policy and reach a win-win solution for all concerned.
Gan Ping Sieu
MCA Vice President
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