Former deputy minister Mohamed Hanipa Maidin expressed hope that PAS-owned kindergartens will not be affected by the government’s efforts to streamline the preschool education system.
He said in a Facebook post that although he has reservations about the Islamist party which he left in 2015, its Pusat Asuhan Tunas Islam (Pasti) kindergartens have been successful.
“Putrajaya has decided to streamline the preschool education system. I hope the Madani government will not ‘disturb’ Pasti which is run by PAS.
“I may have some reservations about PAS, but Pasti has been very successful,” he claimed.
When contacted by Malaysiakini, the former Sepang MP said Amanah leaders in the government should also be able to vouch for Pasti’s success.
The progressive wing of PAS broke away to form Amanah in 2015 under the leadership of party president Mohamad Sabu.
Hanipa said he himself had sent his children to Pasti for their preschool education.
He claimed that Pasti is run by professional educators, some of whom have their PhDs in preschool education.
“Are you aware that even some non-Muslim parents don't mind sending their kids to Pasti?” he said.
‘Don’t politicise education sector’
He also claimed that Umno had previously made several attempts to end Pasti, something he became aware of in his role as Pasti’s legal adviser.
"At one time, one PAS activist who ran Pasti in Malacca was charged in court. I represented him.
"We challenged the constitutionality of the enactment and the case had reached the Federal Court but my client died before the hearing in Federal Court commenced," he added.
Hanipa went on to warn the government against attempts to politicise the education sector, saying that any move made by the Madani administration against Pasti would be seen as politically motivated.
Yesterday, government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil announced Putrajaya’s decision to streamline the preschool education system and have its coordination handled by a single ministry.
In a press conference, he said the cabinet agreed for the Education Ministry to run point on the matter to ensure that the quality of kindergartens is at par.
At present, several different preschool education systems are being used in the country.
In the government sector, three ministries - the Education Ministry, Rural and Regional Development Ministry, and National Unity Ministry - have been running separate kindergartens, while several state religious authorities also operate their own preschools. - Mkini
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