NIBONG TEBAL: DAP, a component party within the unity government, has never opposed any Islam-based programmes raised in the cabinet, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
The deputy prime minister said DAP was always sensitive to articles 3 and 153 of the Federal Constitution.
Article 3 touches on Islam as the federal religion and Article 153 speaks about the special rights of the Malays and the Malay rulers.
"They have said this repeatedly and I hope this will not be turned into an issue for campaigning for the Sungai Bakap by-election.
"Similarly, for the other issues, the other ministers present had answered them," he told newsmen here today.
He was met after the state-level pre-Tahfiz programme at Perda-Tech here.
Elaborating, Zahid said the pre-Tahfiz programme under him was never opposed by DAP before.
"So, there is no truth to claims that Islam is under threat under the unity government.
"Instead, this programme represents a game changer or a change in the Islamic education system. We start at preschool level, and certainly, for our Muslim children, we will teach them in 10,843 tabika and tadika under Kemas nationwide.
"By 2026, InsyaAllah, there will be 150,000 children participating in this pre-Tahfiz programme," he added.
Additionally, said Zahid, they do not neglect the inclusion of other religions.
For instance, he said, civic education was taught in mixed-kindergarten settings, where non-Muslim children were enrolled.
Meanwhile, Zahid was also asked on the drop in the World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR).
He said the government was confident that the country's economy would improve following the increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) recorded in the first quarter of 2024, indicating positive development.
He said, despite Malaysia's position at 34th out of 67 countries in the WCR 2024, it was achieved through political stability under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"From the perspective of FDI, it has increased in the first quarter of 2024 and investors see it as number one, in terms of political stability, and secondly, in terms of the ability to approve project applications, especially for managing factories in industrial areas.
"Thirdly, it is about the confidence in the current government," he added.
Zahid said additional explanations on the issue would be provided by the relevant ministries, including the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry, the Finance Ministry and the Economy Ministry.
In a recent report, Malaysia ranked 34th out of 67 countries in the WCR 2024, dropping seven spots from 27th last year.