IPOH: The approach to implementing the Imam Al-Nawawi's 40 Hadith appreciation pilot module in schools must be clearly defined in advance to prevent any misinterpretation that could potentially lead to disputes, especially among non-Muslims.
MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said a dispute arose following the word "pilot" in the implementation of the module, which had carried the connotation that it would be expanded to schools other than Islamic religious schools.
He said he was satisfied by the clarifications made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Johor on Friday, when the latter explained that the unity government would not force non-Muslims to memorise or embrace the module.
"What the people reacted (opposed) to was the choice of words in the introduction of the module as a 'pilot project'.
"This phrasing raised questions about whether it would ultimately expand to all national secondary schools, allowing for varying interpretations.
"I see media reports also using the word 'pilot' and 'expanded' so many did not know what it meant, whether it will be expanded to all other students in terms of the subject or the syllabus itself will be expanded.
"The Prime Minister has explained this and the Education Ministry also issued a statement clarifying the issue."
He said this at the MCA Perak convention in Ipoh, yesterday.
Also Read: Don't turn Imam Al-Nawawi's 40th Hadith appreciation module into polemic - Mohd Na'im https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/08/947579/dont-turn-imam-al-nawa...
"Anwar's explanation and the statement by the ministry were only issued Friday evening, but this matter had been raised for the past few days, so this should have been clarified earlier," said Wee.
The Education Ministry's statement said the pilot programme would be implemented in 61 national religious secondary schools (SMKA) and 228 government-aided religious schools (SABK) nationwide.
It was launched on Aug 19, and was introduced to foster hadith understanding and appreciation starting at the school level.
In response to criticisms over the module, Anwar stressed that the unity government had never forced non-Muslims to memorise or study Imam Nawawi's 40 Hadith.
He said the initiative was only intended for Muslim teachers and students and the introduction of the subject was to strengthen their understanding of the religion, particularly among the youth.