Education Ministry refutes 'Islamisation' in schools after Yadim letter leaked

The Education Ministry has refuted that its approval to allow Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim) to carry out religious propagation activities in schools and institution of higher learnings is an Islamisation move.

The ministry, in a statement today, said the setting up of Rakan Siswa Yadim is still subjected to permission from the respective institutions and schools and will be limited to Muslim students who want to volunteer.

"The Education Ministry would like to stress that this is not Islamisation and does not involve non-Muslim students as well as SJK(C), SJK(T) and missionary schools.

"The ministry guarantees that Rakan Siswa Yadim will be responsible for obeying existing rules and the freedom of religion for non-Muslim students.

"Schools are also asked to monitor the activities to ensure that it does not involve non-Muslim students," it said in a statement today.

Yesterday, MCA president Wee Ka Siong revealed a letter issued by the Education Ministry to all state education directors titled "permission for Rakan Siswa Yadim to conduct dakwah (religious propagation) in schools, teacher education institutes, polytechnics, community colleges, public universities and selected private universities in Malaysia".

It said Rakan Siswa Yadim organises leadership skills to its members.

Wee had questioned why religious propagation was being mixed up with school education.

The Education Ministry, in its statement today, said it views the leaked letter seriously, stating that it could "cause misunderstanding".

"The ministry would like to inform that the letter is an administrative document between the Education Ministry and education institutions to encourage leadership programmes amongst students," it said.