TO ordinary folk, this seems like any other private school. Schoolboys in red, collared T-shirts and long pants go about their daily routines, playing sports and attending classes.

Take a closer look and you’ll see the mostly Malay boys speak Mandarin in between the odd Arabic phrase here and there. This is the first and only tahfiz school which teaches Arabic and Mandarin.

A tahfiz school is a private religious school that emphasises memorising and reciting the Quran in Arabic. 

The Malay proverb “tuntutlah ilmu walau sampai ke negara Cina” or “seek knowledge until you reach China” inspired Muhamad Ibrahim to start the Mandarin Tahfiz Academy (MTA).

Although his school is nowhere close to China, students must want to learn Mandarin before they can be admitted into Muhamad’s tahfiz school.

Muhamad, better known as Ustaz “Mat Cina”,  said his school comes under the Pertubuhan Pendakwah Selangor. The pilot project, which was launched in January, is located on Pulau Ketam.  

“There are not many Muslim students who know Mandarin. That’s why, besides having an interest in studying the Quran, they also have to know Mandarin,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Thirty students are taught Mandarin at night by a Chinese teacher whom the school engages, said Muhamad.

As most of Pulau Ketam’s inhabitants are Chinese, the environment will allow students to master the language faster and better.

“Just like those who are trying to learn Arabic. Although you can also take Arabic lessons here, it is not the most conducive place to learn the language properly,” said the missionary.

“But we can’t go to China as it is too far. As such Pulau Ketam, with its large Chinese population, is a very good place to learn Mandarin. Even their Mandarin teacher teaches at the local vernacular school,” said Muhamad.

Although the school is still new, more than half of the students have picked up the language quite quickly.

“Only 30%-40% are still struggling with the new language. But we not too concerned yet. But starting from August, the students will be required to use Mandarin in their everyday conversations with the local people,” said Muhamad, who himself is fluent in Mandarin.

Muhamad’s insistence of Mandarin is unusual for tahfiz schools, which tend to be known for their use of Arabic. But Muhamad did live in China for six years, which might explain his affinity with the language.

 “I started learning Mandarin in Nilam Puri, Kelantan. Then I continued my studies at Al-Azhar University and after coming home, I decided to pick up Mandarin again.”

Muhamad moved to China in 2006 to study at the University of Jinan in Guangzhou, thus earning his nickname “Mat Cina”.

He said he did not want MTA to be just another school where students only learn to memorise the Quran and study religion. He wanted the students to have other skills.

“I want the students to be able to communicate in other languages besides Arabic. It’s a strength to know Mandarin,” said Muhamad, who is thinking of starting a Tamil tahfiz school. too.

Like other tahfiz schools, students have five years to memorise the 30 chapters of the Quran. 

Another unique feature of Muhamad’s tahfiz school is that his students are not required to wear the headscarves and robes usually associated with tahfiz schools.

“They only have to wear the school uniforms of red T-shirts and pants. We don’t want to use a too drastic approach and frighten the local people,” he added.

This is one of the ways Muhamad hopes to combat Islamophobia.

“There have never been issues or allegations that we are trying to Islamise this area. They only see the good behaviour of the tahfiz students,” said Muhamad.

For Ahmad Afnan Sobri, the switch to a tahfiz school that teaches Mandarin was easy as he used to study at a Chinese vernacular school.

“I have adapted to learning Mandarin and studying the Quran in Arabic,” said the 13-year-old.

“It’s not that hard. And I have begun to teach others too,” he added.

Though he joined the school several days later, Mohd Nasrullah Nadri has also begun to speak rudimentary Mandarin.

After introducing himself in the newly learnt language, the 15-year-old said he did not mind learning another language.

“But the study schedules are really long here as there are so many languages to learn.  But I do enjoy learning Mandarin.

The school currently collects RM200 a month from the students. The rest of the funding comes from the public.

“We currently need around RM22,000 a month to sustain the school,” said Muhamad. 

Those who are interested to help the school can reach Muhamad at 013-6919717. – June 4, 2017.