Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim allocates RM1.525 million to five Sabah pondok and tahfiz institutions for infrastructure and digital education upgrades.
KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced an allocation of RM1.525 million for five pondok schools and tahfiz centres in Sabah to upgrade infrastructure and introduce digital education, including artificial intelligence.
He said the initiative reflects the MADANI government’s commitment to strengthening traditional Islamic education institutions while ensuring they keep pace with technological developments.
The five institutions receiving the allocation are Pondok Pesantren Nurul Ihsan and Pondok Miftahussalam in Sandakan, Pusat Pengajian Tahfiz Al-Quran Babussalam and Pondok Al-Hasyimi in Kudat, as well as Pondok Fii Dzilalil Quran in Kota Belud.
“Pondok and tahfiz institutions must adapt to global changes, including technological progress and artificial intelligence,” he said at the MADANI breaking-of-fast event at Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
Anwar clarified that the government will not interfere with the traditional curriculum taught at pondok and tahfiz institutions, but suggested that all educational institutions ensure students master Bahasa Melayu and understand the country’s history.
He said the government only intends to complement the existing curriculum by introducing elements such as language proficiency, history, digital education and artificial intelligence.
Anwar noted that the government had previously stopped financial assistance to sekolah agama rakyat in 2003 despite the institutions serving hundreds of thousands of students nationwide.
He said the current administration decided to review the policy after recognising the important role these institutions play in community education.
“I discussed the matter with my colleagues and felt the decision was not wise, and if there are weaknesses, we should try to improve them while listening to their concerns,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anwar stressed the importance of ensuring national development benefits people at the grassroots level, urging attention for basic facilities like small restaurants and food kiosks used by the majority.
The event was also attended by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.
The Sun Malaysia
