Thursday, January 26, 2023

PM Anwar supports proposal to review Islamic studies in schools



MM Online:

PM Anwar supports proposal to review Islamic studies in schools




Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (centre) during the launch of the book ‘Knowledge, Tradition and Civilization: Essay Honour of Professor Osman Bakar’ at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation, International Islamic University Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur January 26, 2023. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

Thursday, 26 Jan 2023 3:32 PM MYT



KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today supported calls for Islamic studies in schools to be reviewed and tailored more to stress compassion and “good values”.

Anwar also backed suggestions by scholars that Islamic civilisation be taught at every level.


The prime minister said the subject is crucial to encourage dialogue and tolerance, citing long-held Islamic traditions for intellectualism and appreciation of world knowledge beyond Islam.

Anwar said this at the launch of the book Knowledge, Tradition and Civilisation: Essays in honour of Professor Osman Bakar at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation-International Islamic University Malaysia (Istac-IIUM) here.


“There are suggestions from scholars such as Professor Osman who stated that the Islamic religious studies being taught in schools must be re-looked at and reviewed to ensure that what is taught gives a better understanding of the issues of values, character and universal humanity values. These have to be emphasised,” he said.


“This is so because often, Islam is taught by quoting authorities and fatwas are issued (by authorities) based on their own understanding. Sometimes, when we question (the fatwas), they say that it is not right,” he added.

“If the main teachers take a wrong action, it must be questioned.”

Islamic courses in the universities have not been reviewed since they were first introduced, Osman said in his speech.

The scholar, widely regarded as an essential public intellectual, and a pioneer in Islamic civilisational studies, told Anwar that the entire Islamic education syllabus must be reviewed and reformed.

The prime minister agreed. He suggested the Malaysian education system’s over-emphasis on scores is flawed and that it must also stress on character and values.

“We must also be wary of forced goals in top universities in Malaysia as they must have both soul and excellence. It is not enough to have soul but no excellence or excellence and no soul,” Osman said.

2 comments:

  1. A fair & compassionated administration plays NO role in religious affairs, even for those theocracies!

    Remember even for the diehard Islamists, they couldn't debut Quran 109:1-6

    Nor worship ye that which I worship. And I shall not worship that which ye worship. Nor will ye worship that which I worship. Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion.

    Exception to those liars of zombieicism!

    So manmanlai is just plying to the zombieic choir.

    ReplyDelete
  2. better yet by all means have as many schools as you like that teaches islamic studies but out of every hundred can we also have two or three, which works out to be only 3percent, schools that teach solely bahasa malaysia, math,science,english and all relevant normal school subjects

    Al madani@ man man lai, do watch out folks

    ReplyDelete