A RECENT research by ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute has found at least three issues that affect the spread of conservative and possibly extremist ideas in Islamic education in Perak.

The issues are the lack of regulation in some schools, such as tahfiz schools, the indirect manner in which students are exposed to political or electoral issues and the influence from other states on religious discourse and affairs. 

The study, titled “Perak and Islamic Education: PAS’ Gateway to the West Coast”, looks at the role the Islamist party has played in the politicisation of Islamic education. 

Through conversations with teachers, administrators and practitioners in the education sector, various issues facilitating the spread of PAS’ ideological teachings in schools were discovered.

On the first issue – the lack of regulation in some schools – Islamic religious schools in Perak, despite monitoring and requiring a licence from state religious authorities to operate, the schools are free to hire teachers as they wish. These teachers may not meet certain requirements, and at times, come from outside Malaysia.

“The schools set their own syllabi, hence creating room for teachers to speak about topics that border on political propaganda and extremist ideas. Consequently, the statements they make may be detrimental to inter-racial and inter-religious relations.

“This point was raised by two of our interviewees, one of them a top administrator at the Perak Education Department, and the other a teacher and member of Amanah in Perak.

“For example, it was stated that when teaching the Prophet’s history (sirah) in class, some teachers made open-ended statements implying that non-Muslims in Malaysia are kafir – a derogatory reference to them,” the study said.

The study, conducted by scholar Dr Mohd Faizal Musa and Afra Alatas, added that the spread of such ideas (takfiri or labelling one as kafir) cannot be easily curbed. 

“Given that tahfiz schools only require a licence, a building, and personal sources of funding to operate, it is fairly easy for them to be established,” it stated.

For the second issue – the indirect manner in which students are exposed to political or electoral issues – the two researchers found that students have been exposed to political propaganda or through which they may be conditioned to support a particular party.

“For example, it was recounted to us that in an Islamic school that receives assistance from the government, a teacher distributed calendars to her students. These calendars had a picture of Haji Razman Zakaria on them.”

Razman Zakaria is Perak PAS chief and Gunung Semanggol assemblyman.

“Another example recounted to us was that students have been involved in extra-curricular activities such as performing in nasyid (performance of devotional songs) bands at events organised by PAS.”

On the third concern – the influence from other states on religious discourse and affairs – it was disclosed that preachers and politicians from Kedah are often invited to mosques in Perak, which are sites of informal education. 

Kedah is a state governed by PAS and is part of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition.

“While the politicians legally do not have the credentials to preach in these mosques, the preachers, who are often party activists, do have the licence to preach. While they are not permitted to touch on political issues during their sermons, there are still opportunities for them, together with the politicians, to talk about politics during moreh (mingling over food) sessions.

“This issue was raised by two of our interviewees involved in formal and informal religious education, one of whom is a village official in a mosque. It was further shared with us that those who are invited from Kedah often spread political propaganda in favour of PN.

“This issue is not helped by the fact there is little control over who gets invited. This largely has to do with leaders elected to oversee a few villages, are responsible for maintaining order and serving as the middlemen between state Islamic authorities and the Muslim community. They are also responsible for inviting preachers to speak in the mosque,” the study revealed.

Considered a gateway to Selangor, the jewel of Malaysia, Perak is PAS’ new target and is a key state in facilitating the spread of their influence to the west coast.

Perak was a key battlefield for political parties in the last general election. PAS fielded Idris Ahmad, ideologue and former religious affairs minister, in Bagan Serai. Alongside deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, Idris is frequently touted as one of those to replace the current party leadership. 

On the other side of the divide, Pakatan Harapan sought to secure the state by fielding Anwar Ibrahim – their prime minister candidate – in Tambun. 

Interviewees in this study included teachers, administrators, and practitioners from various types of Islamic schools in Perak, excluding the religious government schools and private international schools. 

It is worth noting that PAS’ involvement in Islamic education and the perceived indoctrination for the purpose of political survival repeatedly resurfaced during the interviews. 

The academic discussions also found that the concern about politicisation and PAS’ increasing popularity was raised specifically in relation to the spread of extremist ideas, which could be detrimental to Malaysia’s multi-racial and multi-religious society. – May 5, 2023.