00:00The son of former Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ismail Abdulrahman has raised concerns about
00:07the rise of religion-focused early childhood education centers in rural areas.
00:13Ex-Sungai Benut MP Tawfiq Ismail said the centers could hinder progress by prioritizing
00:18religious education over secular, affecting the development of rural communities.
00:24He also criticized the shift towards Islamization with the allocated funds intended for quality
00:29education.
00:30Under the 2025 federal budget, the Islamic Development Department received RM2 billion
00:35to enhance Islamic educational institutions, while the Community Development Department
00:40was given RM373 million for early childhood programs.
00:45Tawfiq also said some might use these centers to instill a fear of cultural threat among
00:50Malays, thereby preserving their political power and fostering disunity.
00:54Meanwhile, sociologist Saifardh Alatas urged Malaysian leaders to focus on inclusive policies
01:00and unity, warning against using racial or religious narratives to address national challenges.
01:07He said government figures or those holding positions of authority tend to create bogeymen
01:11to pin the blame on for various challenges, both domestic and global.
01:16Danish Raja Reza, FMT News.
Comments