GEORGE TOWN: Penang Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) has called for tahfiz schools in the country to be modernised, rather than shut down.
Youth chief Muhammad Shameer Mohamed Sulaiman said the religious schools have proven to be able to produce civilised, responsible and virtuous people due to its teachings, and hence it should be preserved at all cost.
He however suggested for more systematic modern tahfiz schools to be operated, in line with the current advanced technology, so that it will be perceived as more relevant.
“The perception that such schools will produce a backward Muslim society in future is untrue. Nowadays, the students even sit for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination and further their studies at the tertiary level.
“There should be improvements in terms of infrastructure and safety, with comfortable surroundings for the students besides changing in its syllabus to give it a fresh look. Closing them down is not an option,” he said today.
He was responding to former Information Minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin, who recently proposed that tahfiz schools be closed due to several issues surrounding the religious institution, claiming that such schools do not give hope for the new generation of Muslims.
Zainuddin was subsequently slammed for his controversial statement.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religious affairs Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa had said that the move to shut down the institution had no basis or rationale.
Elaborating, Muhammad Shameer said instead of closing down the tahfiz schools, the authorities should instead clamp down on entertainment outlets, gambling and vice centres.
“These outlets have mushroomed and they have negative impact on youths.
“As such, they should be closed to prevent our future generation from being involved in unhealthy activities,” he said.
In Kuala Lumpur, non-governmental organisation Persatuan Permata Al-Quran Malaysia said that Zainuddin went overboard when he made the call to close tahfiz schools.
Its president Manolito Mohd Dahlan said the former information minister’s statement was ignorant toward realities of the institution of tahfiz schools, religious scholars and preachers.
He said Zainuddin’s opinion was not constructive, and it reeked of his personal hatred towards the subject matter. He said that Zainuddin’s personal opinion had insulted this revered institution of Islamic education and caused uneasiness among Muslims.
“Islam teaches its followers to respect the Al-Quran. The Prophet has taught us that the most honourable among us are those who learn and teach the Al-Quran.
“We ask for Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa (Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Islamic Affairs) to not take notice of Zainuddin’s statement.
Manolito said Mujahid should be advising Zainuddin against interfering in the administration of Islamic affairs in the new government.
“We ask that any quarter who is prejudice towards the institution of tahfiz schools to be fair and to be more careful in issuing statements. Do not play with sentiments of hatred,” said Manolito in a statement today.
He said that if Zainuddin or any other person instigated and insulted the institution of tahfiz schools further, the association will not hesitate to lodge a police report.
He said this was to avoid angering people and disunity, hostility and negative perception towards Islamic institutions.
“We hope that the new government would strengthen the tahfiz institution, ‘sekolah pondok’ (religious schools) and other religious institutions by providing more funding.
“We hope the new government will provide various training and give more opportunities for Maahad Tahfiz graduates to further their studies at higher learning institutions. It must also provide career opportunities in various sectors,” he said.
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