Ex-Sungai Benut MP Tawfik Ismail said substantial federal funds allocated to the Islamic development department (Jakim) and the community development department (Kemas) under the 2025 budget may unintentionally be fuelling the rise of such kindergartens in the Malay heartlands.
Tawfik said these kindergartens were cause for concern as their focus on religion would undermine efforts to uplift rural communities through secular education.
“These funds, intended to provide access to quality education, may be promoting Islamisation instead of fostering a balanced, secular education system,” he told FMT.
Under the 2025 federal budget, Jakim is allocated RM2 billion, with part of the funding aimed at strengthening Islamic educational institutions.
Meanwhile, approximately RM373 million has been allocated for early childhood programmes under Kemas, which runs daycare centres and kindergartens.
Tawfik expressed concern that certain politicians may use the prevalence of these kindergartens to mislead future generations of Malays into believing that their race is perpetually under threat.The former Umno MP described these politicians as a “real danger” as they seek to keep hold of political power by instilling fear among the Malays while stoking disunity in Malaysia’s multiethnic society.
The “green wave” which swept through the country during the 15th general election (GE15) and in the six state elections the following year has seen a surge in the popularity of Perikatan Nasional, and especially PAS.
The Islamist party secured 43 parliamentary seats in GE15, its highest haul ever, while PN made a clean sweep of state seats in Terengganu, and had an overwhelming majority in the state assemblies of Kedah and Kelantan in the last state elections.
The growth in support for PN at GE15 was brought about by an influx of young voters after the voting age was lowered to 18, and the opposition coalition’s strategic use of social media to woo them.
With Malaysia taking over as the Asean chair next year, Tawfik said there was a need for Putrajaya to project diversity, rather than religious intolerance.
“It will be challenging for our leaders to advocate for unity and tolerance in the region if our domestic realities point the other way,” he added.
Tawfik called on Malaysians and politicians to actively counter division by fostering cross-cultural understanding, sharing a personal story of how his late grandfather had adopted girls given away by poor Chinese families.
He encouraged Malaysians to pursue similar “acts of unity”.
“We must not allow political parties to divide Malaysians. Even small acts, like starting conversations with people from different backgrounds, can bridge divides.”
Stop the bogeyman culture
Syed Farid Alatas, a prominent sociologist from the National University of Singapore, shared Tawfik’s concerns and urged Putrajaya to prioritise policies that benefit all citizens, particularly the B40 income group, rather than fuel racial or religious divides.
“There is no danger of the Malays losing out. They are the majority. What is needed now are policies that uplift all Malaysians regardless of race, pushing incomes higher and improving education.
“It will build trust in the government and foster unity,” Syed Farid told FMT.
He said government figures or those holding positions of authority tend to create bogeymen to pin the blame on for various challenges, both domestic and global.
He criticised such practices, saying such narratives only detract from addressing systemic issues like corruption.
For Malaysia to move forward, Syed Farid said its leaders must rise above fear-mongering and prioritise the nation’s collective progress over their narrow interests. - FMT
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