Yoursay: Islamisation in our schools – are the fears justified?

YOURSAY | 'Are other religious groups allowed to set up their respective clubs as well?'

Education Ministry refutes 'Islamisation' in schools after Yadim letter leaked

Vijay47: Pardon my French, Education Minister Maszlee Malik, but what the damn hell is wrong with you? What are you up to?

Despite your pretentious denials, you are obviously obsessed with carrying out stealthy Islamic missionary programmes rather than attending to your position of education minister.

The alarm bells first went off when your mentor, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, slyly appointed an Islamic Studies graduate to care for the education of the country’s young impressionable, innocent schoolchildren and sure enough, one of your first achievements was to instruct teachers, who are almost exclusively Muslims, to dedicate themselves to the dakwah onslaught.

I can readily overlook your expertise in black shoes and cinema inspiration as aberrations of a simpleton’s mind lacking in intelligence, but when this misfortune further mutates into cunning religious objectives, we know that you represent the evil face of Islamisation in the realm of learning.

I admit that in a moment of naïve foolishness I, who was totally opposed to the teaching of khat or its alter ego, Jawi, had even agreed that Chinese education group Dong Zong should perhaps re-think their stand. But now, seeing the latest developments you have engineered, Maszlee, I say no way in hell should you and Mahathir ever be trusted again.

You now piteously plead that the Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim) circular was intended only for Muslim students in selected institutions of learning. Pray tell us, who are the target victims of such proselytisation efforts if not non-Muslims? And, if your notice is all that honourable and only in respect of leadership ventures, why is it restricted to just certain institutions?

If your circular was all that virtuous, why is your ministry disturbed that it was “leaked”? And, as I asked earlier, Maszlee, why your obsession with Islamisation in education? Isn’t the RM1 billion budget for Jakim (Department of Islamic Development) enough?

Dong Zong was so right when they viewed you, khat, and Jawi with intense suspicion. They should be ashamed of themselves if they ever sat at the same table as you.

Iiiizzzziiii: I think the education minister is more stupid than he looks. Why do you want to set up an Islamic society in multiracial and vernacular schools, and emphasise on exclusivity? If this is being done in an Islamic school, no questions asked, but in non-Islamic schools? What is the objective here?

Clever words do not masquerade the intention. I think the English word 'hypocrisy' aptly describes the Education Ministry’s latest policy. And I thought education is beyond race and religion. Not in Malaysia.

Just Thinking Aloud: Education is sacrosanct to the non-Malays, especially the Chinese. To keep introducing and encouraging programmes that contradict the ideals of academic excellence and the building of wholesome individuals through education, the minister has done great damage to the goodwill of the rakyat towards Pakatan Harapan.

This will surely cost Harapan extensive loss of support from the non-Malay/urban demographics come GE15.

Hearty Malaysian: Maszlee has no better idea to improve the education system than changing school colour and Islamising the school curriculum. It imposes on others directly or indirectly, if not segregating the students according to religious grounds by injecting more Islamic element into the school programme.

Religious belief and learning can be handled better within the family or at places of worship, instead of schools. We have plenty of government-supported Islamic schools for students wanting to learn. Don’t try duplicate it in our other schools.

Myviews: Irrespective of whether it is Islamisation or not, why is it so important to keep on emphasising on the subject when there are much more important things to pursue?

Sure, it is important to have a strong religious background and this has been going on all the time, until so much so that national-type schools have now become more akin to religious schools. But hey! the world is moving forward at a very fast pace and in a very short time, artificial intelligence will be replacing humans in many aspects of working life.

Should we not at least keep pace, instead of moving backwards? Even China has changed from its dogmatic communism to its own brand with Chinese characteristics. And the result is that it has moved forward by leaps and bounds in just 40 years to become the world's second-largest (and soon to be the largest) economy.

And here we are, still refusing to move forward, other than changing from white shoes to black shoes. The least one could have done is to take steps to improve in our command of English so as to keep pace with technology.

Perhaps the education minister can let us know what steps he has in mind to pursue in this direction (that is, if he has one)?

Giant Pygmy: The Education Ministry is singly responsible for almost all of the 'racial' conundrum going on now.

Maybe it is indeed BN supporters in the ministry clandestinely masterminding all these so that non-Malays will hate Harapan. And the genius minister does not see this

Academic Political Analyst: The religious propagation is limited for Muslims only, for goodness sake. Can’t Muslims do anything for their own community without being hounded by non-Muslims?

I consider myself as a liberal and non-racist person. But all these harassments against Muslims are getting on my nerves.

The Fog of Life: If religious propagation is seen as an opportunity to support student leadership skills, then it should be open (on the same terms) to all faiths. Why would the Education Ministry simply see this opportunity as relevant to the propagation of Islam?

Can the Education Ministry clarify whether religious propagation by non-Muslims, of their respective faiths, will also be allowed (on the same terms) as part of the leadership skills development agenda? If not, please provide an “intelligent” explanation why it only applies to the Islamic faith.

Léon Moch: Of course, the members of this club will be limited to Muslims as it is to proselytise Islam, as stated by the letter.

But to whom do you think they will proselytise to? Muslims proselytising to Muslims only? Does that make any sense?

EvinK: Come on, religious propagation means exactly that - it is to spread the said religion to non-believers. It makes no sense for one to propagate a particular religion to the practitioners of the same religion. Any thinking person can see that this will only affect the non-practitioners of the said religion.

These are schools, for goodness sake. Clearly, schools of any kind must be free from any form of religious propagation. Our children should not be made into targets and victims for whatsoever religious or political agendas.

Every time Harapan appears to move one step forward, they somehow manage to fall 10 steps backwards. At this rate, come GE15, they won’t stand a chance in hell, even within urban areas.

Pokok Kelapa: Islamisation or propagation of religion means to direct them to one path. In this case, it is another religion to Islam.

What it means is very obvious. No further explanation is required.

Anonymous_1533094668: Any religion per se is a belief that one professes and loves. Schools house minors. Propagate means to spread an idea. Minors should not be the target to propagate religion.

If the same thing is done by the Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, etc, will the Muslims keep silent? Will the Muslims allow Christians or other missionaries to propagate in schools?

Every human believes their belief is the ultimate truth. Therefore, no parents in good mind will allow their children to be in this situation. There are reported cases in Sabah and Sarawak, wherein school children converted unsuspectedly, without the knowledge of the parents.

Nobody will lament if religious propagation is done with those above 18 years.

Anonymous_1371464255: The priority of our schools is to teach and develop the intellectual capacity of the students. The study of religion should be left out of the school syllabus, unless it is a religious school.

Those who wish to pursue to study religion should do so outside school hours. - Mkini