School no place for ‘dakwah’ efforts, says multi-faith council

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 29 Dec 2019 10:30AM · 7 Comments

The Education Ministry has issued the assurance that Yadim would not be preaching to non-Muslim students, nor would 'dakwah' be foisted on the vernacular and missionary schools. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, December 29, 2019.

SCHOOL should not used for “dakwah” activities, said the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST).

The group said in a statement that it was alarmed that the Education Ministry has allowed Rakan Siswa Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim) to carry out such activities in schools, teachers’ training institutes, polytechnics, public and selected private universities.

“Dakwah” means “invitation to Islam”.

“MCCBCHST looks at the letter with alarm because ‘dakwah’ activities are planned to be carried out on such a wide scale among students who are young and impressionable, innocent to worldly ways and very vulnerable,” it said.

The umbrella body added that schools are places of learning to acquire knowledge, enhance competitiveness, and to learn science and technology and other skills.

“But what is being planned appears to be promotion of Islamic missionary activities among students which should not be the concern of national type schools,” it said.

It was revealed last week that the Education Ministry had on a October 2 memo given permission to Yadim to carry out dakwah activities in the learning institutions

The memo was subsequently leaked and widely shared on social media, leading to imputations of Islamisation.

This has forced the ministry to issue a denial as well as the assurance that Yadim would not be preaching to non-Muslim students, nor would ‘dakwah’ be foisted on the vernacular and missionary schools.

It said the setting up of Rakan Siswa Yadim was subjected to permission from the respective institutions and schools, and that participation would be limited to Muslim students who volunteer.

“The ministry guarantees that Rakan Siswa Yadim will be responsible for obeying existing rules and the freedom of religion for non-Muslim students,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Schools are also asked to monitor the activities to ensure that it does not involve non-Muslim students.” – December 29, 2019.

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Comments

  • How are NonMuslims School going children be SAFE in SCHOOL . Dakwah is very dangerous THREAT to OUR NON MUSLIM CHILDREN.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • Who are you to tell we cant dakwah to our own muslim student.. so after this you want us to stop the Agama Islam subjects to our muslim student?

    They not doing their activities with non muslim student..we know how go respect other religious... . furthermore nothing new about this programme.. Started 2013..why you dony make nosie before?

    Posted 4 years ago by Shah ramo · Reply

    • Do Dakwah in the Mosque if u muslims are REALLY TRUE MUSLIMS Why u muslims Target Non Muslim School Going for KNOWLEDGE Children. Only Cowards Attack Children. Dakwah at home at mosque why SCHOOLS???????

      Posted 4 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • This is going to cause an even wider schism between the Malays and the rest of the country.

    Posted 4 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • Take ALL religion out of schools. On the one hand the Prime Minister lamented that despite so much religion and moral education in the schools, the character of the products of the schools does not reflect any religious or moral values in them. People had very good moral values in the 1950's when there was no religious or moral education in the syllabus and exams. It is foolish not to see that moral and religious education (which are studied for exams) have not created people practicing the values they learn in theory. Look at those countries which are truly ISLAMIC - they are not Islamic countries, but non-Muslim countries!!

    Posted 4 years ago by Ravinder Singh · Reply

  • We really need a new PM.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • There is a hidden agenda in this. Malaysia has a bad PM. He is sowing the seeds of divisiveness, hatred and antagonizing the multiracial community. Religion or Arabization has no place in schools...period.

    Everything Dr M has done since taking office is to divide the population ( as if to consolidate the Malay population)-in so doing PH is being split right in the middle-DAP members arrested for involvement with Tamil Tigers( although they are no longer regarded internationally as a terrorist organizations by many OSCE states), Malay Dignity Conference ( or Muslim dignity conference) -present there were UMNO and PAS members in unity, Islamic Conference -attacking India on their new citizenship laws, then we have this insistence on Jawi script being taught in vernacular schools...which Chinese /Indian parents very upset-because of its arabic content. Finally, we have Zakir Naik being given shelter in Malaysia with complete disregard/disrespect to Indians and Chinese feelings when he berated and accused many of being disloyal to Malaysia. Additionally, I think the Malay-Muslim propaganda is being pushed in schools to brain wash Malay kids that Zakir Naik is an "icon" . All this suggest that he wants to increase his Bersatu base and make PH irrelevant.


    Never seen a PM so divisive in his policies- the most recent statement that "Chinese parents dont like their children playing with Malays.." is telling. This is a very inflammatory statement made by a PM who is supposed to bring the country together.

    Posted 4 years ago by Jai McGregor · Reply